New Jersey’s ‘tricky’ weather may see winter storm, snow, sleet and rain

Thursday, February 8, 2024

A “very tricky” storm system may bring rain or a wintry mix of rain, snow and sleet to the New Jersey region early next week. This is according to several weather forecasters.

They stress, however, it’s too early to determine how much rain or snow will fall because of uncertainties over the storm track and how much cold air will be locked in when the storm arrives.

For now, forecasters from AccuWeather say there could be two scenarios for the track of the storm after it develops near Texas and Louisiana on Sunday and moves toward the eastern U.S. on Monday.

Into early next week, this storm can either track off the Carolina coastline, spreading steady rain as it travels eastward, or it can take a more northeasterly path and encounter cold air pushing southward from Canada, AccuWeather senior meteorologist Tyler Roys said.

Steven DiMartino a New Jersey meteorologist based in Monmouth County, agrees there’s a high degree of uncertainty over the winter storm track and impacts for the region, with major computer guidance models spitting out differing scenarios.

The National Weather Service’s main forecast office in New Jersey says a storm system is likely to develop near the East Coast by next Monday but its track still remains uncertain.

The weather service’s New York regional office, which covers five counties in northeastern New Jersey, says there’s a widespread precipitation potential with possibility of rain and/or snow early next week as a low pressure system approaches the region and strengthens.

But the office notes there is “much uncertainty” in the forecast at this time, because the potential storm system is five days away and guidance models are not in agreement on the storm’s track and strength.

One thing forecasters seem to agree on is a shift in the weather pattern, with mild temperatures expected this weekend and colder temperatures likely to arrive next week.

Forecasters say a trend of colder-than-average temperatures could persist through the end of February and even into early March, boosting our chances of snow.

Some experts say a disruption of the polar vortex in mid-February could be the main force in bringing a sustained period of cold air flowing from Canada into the northern U.S.

Colder air, however, doesn’t guarantee snow, as pointed out by Bobby Martrich, a meteorologist for EPAWA Weather Consulting, which is based in eastern Pennsylvania but also covers northern New Jersey.

« Back to Page

• New York Stands Resilient After Being Rattled by 4.8 Earthquake

• New Jersey legislation threatens hotel industry: franchise model and jobs at risk AHLA

• Life Time opens state-of-the-Art club in Middletown – Red Bank

• Occupancy tax trends positive in Cape May County tourism segment

• 5 dead and 85000 without power as storm lashes South and mid-Atlantic