'Powerful' Storm Before Christmas In NJ Forecast: New Details

NEW JERSEY — No matter if you're traveling or staying in New Jersey, the days leading up to Christmas could feature some treacherous periods of winter weather. Forecasters expect a combination of rain, powerful winds and potential flooding on Thursday and Friday, leading into what could become the coldest Christmas in decades.

While widespread snow in the state now appears unlikely, the impending storm will likely cause trouble in New Jersey, Philadelphia and New York City, according to AccuWeather. The weather platform updated its Thursday travel outlook from "poor" to "fair" for Thursday in the area. But Friday remains a poor travel day in AccuWeather's forecast.

The widespread storm will have severe impacts throughout the nation, forecasters say. Several major travel hubs, including New York City, face significant disruptions, according to AccuWeather. Affected aircraft and crews could spark ripple-effect delays throughout the nation.

Meteorologists disagree on when the precipitation may begin Thursday in New Jersey. But the earlier it starts, the higher the chance of a combination of snow, rain and freezing rain.
"But overall impacts from any snow or ice are not expected to be significant," said Tuesday morning's forecast discussion from the National Weather Service's Mount Holly office.

The rain could get heavier overnight Thursday into Friday morning. With just more than an inch of rain falling during that window, localized flooding may occur, the National Weather Service says. There's a slight chance of snow showers Friday, but the agency generally expects 1-2 inches of rain overall during the storm.

Strong winds will pick up Friday, according to the National Weather Service. Gusts could reach 40-50 mph inland and exceed 50 mph along and off the coast.

Here are AccuWeather's most recent travel outlooks:

Friday morning's high-tide cycle, associated with the new moon, could bring more water to the coastline. The tide brings the potential for widespread, minor flooding, with moderate flooding possible in some areas, the National Weather Service says.

Saturday is expected to be nicer than Friday, but forecasters expect temperatures to drop, with highs maxing in the mid-20s and lows in the mid-teens.

This could become the coldest Christmas Eve and Day since 1989, the National Weather Service says.

Here's the National Weather Service's latest North Jersey forecast:

• Tuesday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 25. North wind 3 to 5 mph.
• Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 40. Calm wind.
• Wednesday night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 30. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph after midnight.
• Thursday: A slight chance of rain and sleet before 10 a.m., then rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 52. Northeast wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. Little or no sleet accumulation expected.
• Thursday night: Rain. Temperature rising to around 53 by 3 a.m. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
• Friday: Rain, mainly before 4 p.m., then showers likely after 4 p.m. High near 57. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent.
• Friday night: Showers likely before 7 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 17. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
• Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 24.
• Saturday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 15.
• Sunday (Christmas): Sunny, with a high near 27.

Here's the agency's latest South Jersey forecast:

• Tuesday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 27. North wind around 5 mph.
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 43. North wind around 5 mph.
• Wednesday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36. East wind around 5 mph.
• Thursday: Rain likely, mainly after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53. East wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
• Thursday night: Rain. Low around 51. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New precipitation amounts between three-quarters and one inch possible.
• Friday: Rain, mainly before 2 p.m. High near 56. Windy. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent.
• Friday night: A chance of rain before 8 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 20. Windy. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.
• Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 28. Breezy.
• Saturday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 16. Breezy.
• Sunday (Christmas): Sunny, with a high near 28.