Snow Chances Expand In NJ: See Latest Storm Forecast

NEW JERSEY — New Jersey is finally seeing rain amid severe drought conditions, and The National Weather Service is predicting that almost half of the state will see at least a light dusting of snow through Friday, if not even more than that.

The rain that's been going on since late Wednesday will continue throughout Thursday and will transition to snow at higher elevations Thursday evening, the National Weather Service said. Gusty winds will make it an unpleasant, blustery day, and the lack of significant rain in the past few months means that roads will be slick and dangerous for driving.

The wet weather has eliminated the fire restrictions across the Garden State, officials said.

North Jersey will likely see less than an inch of snow accumulating tonight, according to the National Weather Service. But there's a chance that cold air lingers enough to drag snow showers down to the Philly area.

Here is a map showing the current predictions:

"Accumulations will be tough as temps likely stay a couple degrees above freezing, but we are forecasting light accumulations, especially on the higher hills, reaching to just northwest of the city [Philadelphia] and I-95," the National Weather Service said. "So, certainly the potential first appearance of snow across a significant portion of the area."

What happens is really dependent on elevation, forecasters say. The more hilly areas up in Sussex and Passaic counties could see more snow accumulation.

Any precipitation will help the dry Garden State and will certainly put a damper on existing brush fires while lessening the chance of future ones. But we need much, much more rain to actually end the drought. It's too severe to be fixed by just one storm, forecasters say.

Here's the latest forecast.

North Jersey

Thursday: Rain. High near 46. North wind around 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: Rain and snow showers before 3 a.m., then a chance of rain between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m., then a chance of snow showers after 4 a.m. Low around 33. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Friday: A chance of rain and snow showers before 11am, then a chance of rain showers between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., then a chance of rain and snow showers after 5 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Friday Night: A chance of showers, mainly before 1 a.m. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 33. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 49.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 33.

Central Jersey

Thursday: Rain and possibly a thunderstorm before 11 a.m., then rain likely between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., then showers likely after 1 p.m. High near 50. West wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night: A chance of showers before 2 a.m., then a slight chance of showers after 3 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. Southwest wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Friday: A chance of showers, mainly after 7 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Friday Night: A chance of showers, mainly before 1 a.m. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 32. West wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 52.

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

South Jersey

Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before noon, then a slight chance of showers between noon and 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 51. West wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 33. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Friday: Showers likely, mainly after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44. Southwest wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Friday Night: A chance of showers before 1 a.m. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 33. West wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 52. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

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

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 55.

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