New Jersey Braces for First Major Snowfall of the Season

New Jersey is in for a snowy surprise this weekend. A winter storm is set to blanket the state with 2 to 5 inches of snow, starting Saturday evening and lasting until Sunday. Some areas, especially near I-95 and southern parts, might even see more than 5 inches. This storm marks the first widespread snowfall of the season for New Jersey. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for Camden, Gloucester, and northwestern Burlington Counties, where 3 to 5 inches or more are expected. The rest of the state is under winter weather advisories, meaning less snow but still enough to cause trouble. Snow is expected to start in the western parts of the state by mid-evening on Saturday. It might begin as rain or a mix of rain and snow, but as temperatures drop, it will turn into all snow. By midnight, areas near and northwest of I-95 should see only snow. The heaviest snowfall is expected during the early morning hours on Sunday, with up to 1 inch of snow per hour in central and southern New Jersey. This heavy snow, though short-lived, will make travel dangerous. Snowfall will decrease from west to east by Sunday afternoon, but temperatures will stay very cold. Highs will only reach the low 30s in the southeast and the 20s northwest of I-95. Many places will see their highest temperatures early in the day, with a drop throughout the afternoon. Winds will pick up as the snow stops, with gusts of 25 to 35 mph expected. This, combined with the cold air, will make it feel like it's in the single digits to low teens across the state by sunset. Blowing snow is also possible. Sunday night into Monday morning will be the coldest of the season, with temperatures dropping to the lower to mid teens and wind chills from zero to 5 degrees. Winds will continue to gust up to 35 mph Sunday night. Monday will be dry with decreasing winds, but highs will only reach the low to mid 30s for most areas. An Arctic air mass will stick around through Tuesday, with overnight lows in the teens for many locations. Tuesday will be another cold day with highs in the mid 20s to mid 30s. The weather pattern starts to change on Wednesday, with highs in the upper 30s to upper 40s. There's a chance of rain on Thursday, with highs in the upper 40s and upper 50s.