WEATHER UPDATE: Ice and Freeze Follow Thursday Snowstorm, Roads Still Hazardous

Here’s the bad news first.

Record-breaking overnight temperatures have frozen much of the accumulated snowfall and icy precipitation from Thursday’s late winter storm. Although the National Weather Service alerts for New Jersey issued earlier this week have been lifted, several inches of accumulated snow continue to make work and travel difficult throughout Essex and Hudson counties.

As of last evening, the NWS reported as much as 7.5 inches of snow in Montclair on Thursday. Other local snow inch counts included:

· Newark Airport – 6.7

· Hoboken - 7

· West Orange – 6.7

· Maplewood – 5.3

· Cedar Grove – 5.2

· Fairfield – 5.1

Several motor vehicle accidents stemming from the weather conditions have been reported across the state. [See related article]

With icy road conditions in mind, several schools and government offices in the area had closed or delayed openings on Friday. [See related article]

So what’s the good news?

If current weather forecasts are correct, Essex and Hudson County residents can expect some sunshine this weekend. According to the NWS, weather will remain relatively quiet over much of the nation from Friday to Sunday. Local weather forecasts call for mostly sunny skies through the weekend.

LOCAL FORECAST FOR THE CALDWELLS

Source: National Weather Service

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 23. Wind chill values between 5 and 15. West wind 3 to 5 mph.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 11. Light west wind.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 34. Wind chill values between 5 and 15. Light southwest wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Saturday Night: A slight chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. West wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 41. West wind 5 to 9 mph.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 23.