More Snow Possible As Arctic Air Blasts NJ, Forecasters Say

NEW JERSEY — Blasts of frigid, Arctic air could hit New Jersey in the coming weeks and bring with it an increased potential of snow, long-range forecasters say.

In a recent video from local forecaster Steven DiMartino, who heads the private NY NJ PA Weather consulting company, he says that there is still "plenty of opportunity" for snowstorms as January turns into February.

"The cold air isn't going away anytime soon," DiMartino said. Using models and predictions, he said that cold air will keep pushing from the polar vortex into the eastern U.S., which is important for snow.

A strong upper low around Quebec is keeping much moisture from reaching New Jersey, though, he said. But he said it could shift into the Hudson Bay, which would increase the chances of storm systems moving along the subtropical jet stream in the south into the Mid-Atlantic.

"I am not guaranteeing winter storms," DiMartino said. "I'm just saying that if you think you can cancel winter and think it's going to be cold and dry for the rest of the winter or we start losing our cold air altogether, the data says wrong."

Any potential storms will not be as soon as the next week, though. Frigid air is coming again this week but it will not be conducive for snow.

"Multiple waves of Arctic air continue to gather over northern Canada with eyes for the central and eastern United States in the days and weeks ahead," AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said.

AccuWeather meteorologists predict a stormy stretch from Jan. 18 to 20, "opening a pathway for one or more significant storms to move up from the South Central states or the Gulf and either track toward the Great Lakes or the coastal Northeast," Pastelok said.

It'll be frigid again towards the end of the month.

"An Arctic blast prior to the end of the month (Jan. 20-24) has the potential to sprawl over much of the Central and Eastern states," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson said. "It may not be such a direct shot into the East, however."

"Winter is not canceled in any way, shape or form," DiMartino said.