NJ Cold Blast: How Low Will Temps Drop, And For How Long?

NEW JERSEY — Light snowfall has come and gone this week, but forecasters expect New Jersey's cold front to last. A string of cold weather may extend into next week, and temperatures likely won't return to "normal" until early February, according to the National Weather Service.

Several arctic blasts have hit New Jersey this winter, but they haven't lasted long. However, AccuWeather believes the current coldness will have staying power.

"While temperatures may rebound a bit by the end of this weekend into early next week, AccuWeather forecasters say the lower-than-average temperatures will likely persist through the end of the month," AccuWeather reports. "Many locales in the interior Northeast could fail to rise above freezing again for the duration of January."

Prepare for the wind chill index to reach single-digit maximums during the day and overnight Friday, the National Weather Service says. See temperatures below:

Keep pets inside, the National Weather Service says. The agency also advises drivers to practice caution in case leftover snowmelt or standing water froze over.

Here's the National Weather Service's latest North Jersey forecast as of 9 a.m. Friday:

• Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 25. Wind chill values between 0 and 10. North wind 10 to 13 mph.
• Friday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 11. Wind chill values between zero and 5. North wind around 10 mph.
• Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 28. Wind chill values between zero and 10. North wind 5 to 8 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.
• Saturday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 19. Calm wind becoming west around 6 mph after midnight.
• Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 34. West wind 6 to 9 mph.
• Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 18.

Here's the National Weather Service's latest South Jersey forecast as of 9 a.m. Friday:

• Friday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 26. North wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
• Friday night: Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 15. North wind around 10 mph.
• Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 30. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
• Saturday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 17. Calm wind.
• Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 36. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
• Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 18.