N.J. Spring Forecast: Winter's Not Over Yet

Don't plan that picnic just yet, because forecasters are saying that the New Jersey spring is still going to feel a little too much like winter for a little while.

Indeed, Monday’s official start to spring did not end winter at all, and cold air is supposed to plunge into the northeastern United States during the middle of this week, according to AccuWeather.

While New Jersey will first get some milder air, temperatures will drop below freezing at night this week. Residents should be aware of icy spots on untreated roads and sidewalks from the leftover snow.

Arctic air will first blast into the upper Great Lakes on Tuesday before descending over the Northeast by Wednesday, preventing that snow from melting.

With the arctic air in place, midweek will feel more like January across the Northeast.

Highs on Wednesday will be 10-20 degrees Fahrenheit below normal, and "real-feel" temperatures will even be 10-15 degrees lower due to a brisk wind, according to AccuWeather.

Lows in the 20s will also have those along the I-95 corridor from New Jersey to Washington, D.C., turning up the heat and bundling up before heading to school and work, according to AccuWeather.

The battle between spring and winter will continue later this week as warmth should briefly surge back in. However, the cold may linger long enough for rain to briefly fall as snow and/or ice ahead of the return of warm air, according to AccuWeather.

By next week, however, the warm weather will return — probably for good. Despite occasional rains, start planning the picnics again as temperatures surge back to the 60s and 70s.

Here is what the Old Farmer's Almanac is predicting for April:

• Temperature average: 52.5 degrees
• Precipitation: 4.5
• Apr 1-8: A few showers; cool north, turning warm south
• Apr 9-12: Showers, warm
• Apr 13-17: Rainy, cool
• Apr 18-23: Sunny, turning warm
• Apr 24-26: Heavy rain
• Apr 27-30: Sunny, turning warm.

Here are AccuWeather's predictions for the spring into June:

Patch file photo