When it comes to predicting how much snow will fall when the massive weekend winter storm slams New Jersey, there’s no shortage of forecasts.
Some predictions are on the high side, projecting a mega-snowstorm. Others are a bit lower, because of expectations that warm air will cause snow to mix or change to sleet and freezing rain for long periods.
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The forecasts show strong consensus that this is shaping up to be the biggest widespread snowstorm in New Jersey in five years and one of the biggest in a decade.
Here’s what nine forecasts say we can expect for snowfall totals:
Counties in far northern New Jersey, like Sussex and Warren, could get hit with as much as 12 to 18 inches of snow before the storm winds down Monday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service’s Mount Holly forecast office.
Counties in central New Jersey and areas closer to Philadelphia may see snowfall totals of 10 to 15 — numbers that could go lower if there’s a long period of sleet and freezing rain mixing in.
Most counties in southern New Jersey are expected to get 6 to 10 inches of snow. Warmer air in that region should lead to more mixing with sleet and freezing rain.
Latest snowfall projections for most areas of New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania. The weather service says 12 to 18 inches of snow could fall in Sussex and Warren counties before the storm winds down Monday afternoon.National Weather Service
The National Weather Service’s New York office, which issues forecasts for Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union counties, is calling for 12 to 13 inches of snow in that part of New Jersey, along with New York City.
Snow accumulations could get as high as 16 inches in Passaic County, the weather service said.
Latest snowfall projections for northeastern sections of New Jersey and the New York City metro region.National Weather Service
Forecasters from AccuWeather are predicting 6 to 12 inches of snow across most of New Jersey and 3 to 6 inches in the southeastern corner of the state.
Although those numbers are lower than several other forecasters, AccuWeather still anticipates a significant winter storm with high impacts on the Garden State.
Forecasters from AccuWeather are predicting less snow for New Jersey than several other meteorologists. But they are still expecting a significant storm.AccuWeather.com
The Monmouth County-based NY NJ PA Weather forecasting company is calling for four zones of snowfall totals in New Jersey.
- 12 to 20 inches of snow across far northern sections of New Jersey
- 8 to 16 inches of snow and sleet in much of central New Jersey
- 6 to 12 inches of snow and sleet in southwestern New Jersey
- 4 to 8 inches of snow changing to sleet and rain in coastal Ocean, Atlantic and Cape May counties.
Snow forecast from NY NJ PA Weather, based in Monmouth County.Steven DiMartino | NY NJ PA Weather
Meteorologists from News 12 New Jersey are calling for 12 to 18 inches of snow in far northern New Jersey, 9 to 12 inches of snow across most of the rest of northern New Jersey, and 6 to 9 inches of snow in most of central and southern New Jersey, with lower amounts in far southern New Jersey.
Dan Zarrow, chief meteorologist for NJ 101.5 FM radio and the Townsquare New Jersey Weather Network, is predicting lower snowfall totals than some other forecasters.
He says forecast models have been suggesting a northward shift in the storm track, which could push snow totals lower than originally expected.
“This is a slightly warmer, less snowy, and more icy solution for New Jersey,” Zarrow said in his morning storm forecast.
He is calling for 10 to 15 inches of snow across most of northern New Jersey, 7 to 10 inches of snow changing to sleet and freezing rain in central New Jersey, and 4 to 7 inches of snow changing to an icy mix and then plain rain in southern New Jersey.
Joe Martucci, a New Jersey meteorologist at Cup A Joe Weather, is predicting 12 to 18 inches of snow across most of northern New Jersey, 7 to 12 inches of snow in most of central New Jersey and 4 to 7 inches of snow and mixed precipitation in Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and coastal Ocean County.
Weekend snow forecast from meteorologist Joe Martucci.Joe Martucci | Cup A Joe Weather
ABC7 News in New York – Brittany Bell
Forecasters from ABC7 New York are predicting 12 to 18 inches of snow in northern New Jersey, and 6 to 12 inches of snow across most of central New Jersey and parts of southern New Jersey.
Meteorologist Mike Masco from PIX11 News in New York is predicting 10 to 15 inches of snow across northern and north-central New Jersey, 6 to 10 inches of snow in much of central New Jersey and northern portions of South Jersey, and 4 to 6 inches in far southern New Jersey.
Current weather radar
