Winter Weather, 'Powerful' Storm In NJ Forecast This Week

NEW JERSEY — While light snow is expected to fall across most of New Jersey on Wednesday, forecasters are more concerned with a "powerful" weekend storm headed to the area that could unleash severe thunderstorms, heavy rain, and possibly more snow.

Wednesday Outlook

Let's start with today. New Jersey residents can expect to see some light snow showers and flurries throughout the day, with the greatest chance across the Poconos, Lehigh Valley, and northwestern New Jersey, according to US National Weather Service Philadelphia/Mount Holly.

Snowflakes are possible, although it will likely be a mix with some light rain showers or drizzle causing very little accumulation.

For most of the Garden State, accumulations are expected to stay below an inch with little impact to travel. Communities in the highest elevations could see higher snow totals around an inch by the end of the day.

Weekend Storm

Warmer temperatures will finish out the work week before a powerful storm could move into New Jersey.

"During the day on Friday, a storm tracking through the central Rockies will shift into the southern and central Plains, developing a new area of low pressure. Chilly air blowing out of the Rockies and northern Plains will clash with warm and humid air flowing out of the Gulf of Mexico, which can spawn a rapidly intensifying storm," according to AccuWeather.

The storm is expected to intensify on Saturday and head toward the east coast on Sunday. The type of precipitation to fall in New Jersey will all depend on slight shifts in the storm track that could determine the difference between heavy snow to heavy rain.

"The storm track will dictate what type of precipitation falls across the interior Northeast into Sunday as well. If the storm were to lift up into Canada, residents across the interior Northeast can expect primarily rain, but if a more southern track were to occur, there could be a period when rain changes over to snow before coming to an end. Along the East Coast, major cities from Washington, D.C., to Boston will likely deal with all rain from this storm, some of which can be heavy between Sunday and Monday," according to AccuWeather.

If the potential for heavy rain, thunderstorms and snow is not enough, New Jersey should also brace for strong wind gusts that may impact travelers both on the roads and in the air.

"The timeframe for the strongest wind gusts from this storm is expected to occur Sunday and Sunday night across parts of the Ohio Valley, the Northeast and into the mid-Atlantic states. Within this zone, wind gusts of 40-60 miles per hour with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 75 miles per hour are anticipated," according to AccuWeather.

Here is a look at the upcoming forecast:

North Jersey

Wednesday: A slight chance of snow showers before 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 38. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 24. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday: A slight chance of light snow. Mostly sunny through mid morning, then becoming cloudy, with a high near 38. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 28. West wind around 5 mph.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 48. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 53.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.

Sunday: A 50 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61. Breezy.

Sunday Night: Rain. Low around 45. Windy. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.

Central Jersey

Wednesday: A slight chance of rain and snow showers, mainly between 1 and 4 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 42. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 24. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday: A slight chance of rain and snow between 1 and 4 p.m., then a slight chance of snow after 4 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 41. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. Light west wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 54.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 34.

Sunday: A chance of showers between 8am and 2pm, then rain likely after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Sunday: A 50 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61. Breezy.

Sunday Night: Rain. Low around 45. Windy. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.

South Jersey

Wednesday: A slight chance of rain showers before 4 p.m., then a slight chance of rain and snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 43. North wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 24. Northwest wind around 10 mph.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 43. West wind around 10 mph.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 27. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 37.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 55.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38.

Sunday: A chance of showers between 8am and 2pm, then rain likely after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Sunday Night: Rain. Low around 45. Windy. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.