Hours before a major winter storm is expected to hit New Jersey, forecasters lowered predictions for how much snow could cover parts of the state on Wednesday. But some areas can still take a big hit.
Some parts of northern New Jersey that were expected to receive 18 to 24 inches of snow will now receive 8 to 12 inches of snow, according to a National Weather Service storm briefing released Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Areas near and north and west of the I-95 corridor are forecast to see the heaviest snow. Those parts of the state could still see 30 to 45 inches of snow, forecasters said.
“Snowfall can reach 1 to 2 inches per hour during a late day from Wednesday to Wednesday evening, significantly reducing visibility and potentially crippling travel in some places,” said a briefing from the weather service.
Meanwhile, South Jersey could see little to no snow build-up. Forecasters say the center of the storm will likely get closer to the Jersey Shore than they previously anticipated, so more warm air will be pushed in from the ocean. That will bring more rain than snow to much of southern New Jersey and coastal areas. .
Still, the region is expected to see snow and strong winds. In Central Jersey, the snow could fall around 4 PM to 5 PM and further north around 6 PM to 7 PM.
“If you’re coming towards New Brunswick, we’re looking at a starting time between 2pm and 5pm. And then if you’re heading towards the New York (state) border, it might start an hour or two after that, so it’s usually mid-to-late afternoon for much of the state, ”Sean Rowland of WeatherWorks, a private forecasting company based in Warren County, told NJ Advance Media Tuesday morning. South Jersey could see the winter weather starting around 11 a.m.
The State Department of Transportation issued a “Winter Weather Congestion Alert” on Wednesday based on the approaching storm, urging motorists to avoid unnecessary travel.
“To enable NJDOT and our regional and local transportation partners to clear highways quickly and efficiently, drivers are encouraged to clear the roads so we can clear the roads,” the department said in a statement.
Forecasts also call for some flooding and wind. Coastal areas can see gusts of wind possibly reaching 45 to 60 mph.
“This can lead to power outages. Inland, gusts of wind can reach as high as 30 to 40 mph, exacerbating visibility restrictions in the snow, ”said the agency’s briefing.
According to forecasters, moderate coastal flooding is also possible on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning during high tide along the Atlantic Ocean and lower Delaware Bay.
NJ Advance Media writers Jeff Goldman and Katie Kausch contributed to this report.
Noah Cohen can be reached at [email protected].
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