AccuWeather Video – Blizzard Storm Warnings Issued

NEW YORK [WABC] — The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning for parts of coastal New Jersey as a storm to our south heads north.

A blizzard warning has been issued for Ocean County for more than a foot of snow, while Winter Storm Warnings have been issued for Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth Counties in New Jersey. Numerous other counties are under Winter Storm Watches. You can see the complete list of watches and warnings by clicking here.

All eyes are on the storm which is currently bringing heavy rain to the Gulf Coast, and there’ll actually be TWO waves of low pressure to keep tabs on here the next couple of days.

As we’ve been saying since Monday, the initial wave of low pressure will track northeastward into the Tennessee and Ohio valleys Friday, Friday night and early Saturday — and as it does so, it’ll be weakening.
Meanwhile, later Friday and Friday night, a secondary wave, or coastal storm will be developing near the Carolinas.

We made it widely known yesterday that the confidence level was high that there will be snow Friday night into Saturday.

But the biggest challenge (as we also pointed out) would be to determine storm accumulation totals for the 24-hour period beginning late Friday and ending late on Saturday.

During the past 12-18 hours, many of the global models have been trending farther SOUTH with this coastal storm, and we’re still expecting that there’ll be quite a gradation over a span of about 150 miles between areas which will get very little snow (including some of the City’s distant northern suburbs) and those that will get a lot (much of central and South Jersey).

So, to put our thoughts down “in black and white” on our preliminary snowfall accumulation maps this morning, we’re leaning towards putting the City in a 3-6 inch accumulation zone, with areas to the north getting 1-3 inches.

It is not out of the question that someone in South Jersey sees around a foot of snow, and it is also a distinct possibility that parts of the Lower Hudson Valley will be hard-pressed to get more than an inch or two.

But, for what its worth, were going out with the 1-3“/3-6” breakdown, and any adjustments that need to be made later will occur in a timely manner.

For now, folks should prepare for a winter storm that will disrupt travel Friday night and nearly all of Saturday.

As this coastal storm departs on Sunday, there will be some sunshine, but most temperatures will be no higher than the 20s.

Bear in mind that the actual snow cover (obviously, beginning with Saturday night’s low temperatures) will be having an impact on future temperature forecasts.

We may have a tough time getting back to 30 on Monday, but we are still about five degrees below the current guidance.

Another round of snow is possible late next Tuesday or Tuesday night into Wednesday.

Have a good day !!!