Snow Forecast: New Jersey Monitors Coastal Storm Amid Record Cold

New Jersey meteorologists are keeping an eye on a potential coastal storm this weekend, which might bring snow. Weather predictions suggest it could become a nor'easter, impacting the East Coast from Saturday night through Monday morning.

Back-to-back weekend snowfalls have already characterized January. The storm on January 25-26 delivered between 4 and 16 inches across the state, as illustrated by NJ Strong Weather Forum maps. Snow on Sunday was initially heavy, then switched to sleet and freezing rain.

The National Weather Service states, "Chances have increased for impactful snow and/or wind along the immediate East Coast, but uncertainty remains rather high with respect to details," according to NJ.com. The storm could move out to sea with minimal impact or bring heavy snow if it stays coastal.

The region is gripped by cold conditions. Daytime highs in northern areas are in the mid to upper teens, while South Jersey reaches around 20 degrees. At night, temperatures drop to low single digits or below zero.

The National Weather Service warns, "It will generally stay very cold through next weekend into at least the beginning of next week," as reported by NJ.com. Wind chills could fall to minus 20 degrees near and northwest of the I-95 corridor.

Another wave of Arctic cold arrives Wednesday evening as a front moves through, though no precipitation is anticipated. From Wednesday through Friday, high temperatures remain low.

A cold weather advisory is active until 10 a.m. Wednesday across most of New Jersey. Extreme cold risks include frostbite and hypothermia, which can occur within minutes of exposure.

This winter, New Jersey's snowfall totals are at 27.1 inches. Newark got 10.8 inches in the recent storm, leading to school closures and tough travel conditions.

Forecasters mention that the system that might bring weekend snow might not form off the southeast coast until Saturday, complicating tracking efforts.

Models like GFS, Canadian, and Euro indicate a strong coastal low that could develop into a nor'easter, warranting close attention to its trajectory. The National Weather Service cautioned about potential strong winds, even if the storm stays offshore.

As the coldest part of the season progresses, energy systems might struggle with heating demand. Low-temperature records could be broken later in the week.

Residents should prepare for continued cold, likely lasting through early next week.