The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for 17 New Jersey counties ahead of a storm that is expected to dump 4 to 8 inches of snow and sleet across our region Thursday and early Friday, along with a thick layer of ice in some areas.
The winter storm watch covers all of northern New Jersey, most of central New Jersey and the western region of South Jersey. It is effective from early Thursday morning through Friday afternoon, with the exact times varying from region to region.
ALSO: When will the snow start? Latest update on timing, track for ‘slop-fest’ winter storm
Although a watch is not as urgent as a warning, it puts residents and public officials on alert that there’s a potential for dangerous winter weather on the way. If forecasters remain confident the storm will drop heavy snow, heavy sleet or significant freezing rain, the watch will likely be upgraded to a warning before the storm — the latest in our long parade of February storms — arrives.
The National Weather Service is predicting 6 to 8 inches of snow for parts of New Jersey and at least a few inches for the entire state on Thursday. Here’s the latest forecast on the timing and precipitation types.
The storm could be a “slop-fest,” said forecaster Nick Carr. “What we might see is a few inches of snow on the front end and then an inch or two of sleet.”
Active storm alerts
Here’s a look at the winter storm alerts in each county as of late Tuesday afternoon:
Bergen County: Winter storm watch effective from 6 a.m. Thursday through 6 a.m. Friday. Forecasters are expecting 4 to 8 inches of snow in this area.
Burlington County: Winter storm watch effective from 4 a.m. Thursday through 1 p.m. Friday. Forecasters are expecting 3 to 6 inches of snow and sleet in the northwestern region of the county, plus a coating of ice ranging from one-tenth of an inch to as much as a quarter-inch.
Camden County: Winter storm watch effective from 4 a.m. Thursday through 1 p.m. Friday. Forecasters are expecting 3 to 6 inches of snow and sleet in this area, plus a coating of ice ranging from one-tenth of an inch to as much as a quarter-inch.
Essex County: Winter storm watch effective from 6 a.m. Thursday through 6 a.m. Friday. Forecasters are expecting 4 to 8 inches of snow in this area.
Gloucester County: Winter storm watch effective from 4 a.m. Thursday through 1 p.m. Friday. Forecasters are expecting 3 to 6 inches of snow and sleet in this area, plus a coating of ice ranging from one-tenth of an inch to as much as a quarter-inch.
Hudson County: Winter storm watch effective from 6 a.m. Thursday through 6 a.m. Friday. Forecasters are expecting 4 to 8 inches of snow in this area.
Hunterdon County: Winter storm watch effective from 4 a.m. Thursday through 1 p.m. Friday. Forecasters are expecting 5 to 8 inches of snow and sleet in the northwestern region of the county.
Mercer County: Winter storm watch effective from 4 a.m. Thursday through 1 p.m. Friday. Forecasters are expecting 3 to 6 inches of snow and sleet in this area, plus a coating of ice ranging from one-tenth of an inch to as much as a quarter-inch.
Middlesex County: Winter storm watch effective from 4 a.m. Thursday through 1 p.m. Friday. Forecasters are expecting 3 to 6 inches of snow and sleet in this area, plus a coating of ice ranging from one-tenth of an inch to as much as a quarter-inch.
Monmouth County: Winter storm watch effective from 4 a.m. Thursday through 1 p.m. Friday. Forecasters are expecting 3 to 6 inches of snow and sleet in the western region of the county, plus a coating of ice ranging from one-tenth of an inch to as much as a quarter-inch.
Morris County: Winter storm watch effective from 4 a.m. Thursday through 1 p.m. Friday. Forecasters are expecting 5 to 8 inches of snow and sleet in the northwestern region of the county.
Passaic County: Winter storm watch effective from 6 a.m. Thursday through 6 a.m. Friday. Forecasters are expecting 4 to 8 inches of snow in this area.
Salem County: Winter storm watch effective from 4 a.m. Thursday through 1 p.m. Friday. Forecasters are expecting 3 to 6 inches of snow in this area, plus a coating of ice ranging from one-tenth of an inch to as much as a quarter-inch.
Somerset County: Winter storm watch effective from 4 a.m. Thursday through 1 p.m. Friday. Forecasters are expecting 5 to 8 inches of snow and sleet in the northwestern region of the county.
Sussex County: Winter storm watch effective from 4 a.m. Thursday through 1 p.m. Friday. Forecasters are expecting 5 to 8 inches of snow and sleet in the northwestern region of the county.
Union County: Winter storm watch effective from 6 a.m. Thursday through 6 a.m. Friday. Forecasters are expecting 4 to 8 inches of snow in this area.
Warren County: Winter storm watch effective from 4 a.m. Thursday through 1 p.m. Friday. Forecasters are expecting 5 to 8 inches of snow and sleet in the northwestern region of the county.
Snow forecast maps
This is the National Weather Service’s early snow forecast for most of New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware and eastern Maryland for Thursday’s winter storm.National Weather Service
This is the National Weather Service’s early snow forecast for northeastern New Jersey, New York City, Long Island and the Hudson Valley for Thursday’s winter storm.National Weather Service
Ice forecast
This is the National Weather Service’s early ice accumulation forecast for parts of New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware and eastern Maryland for Thursday’s winter storm.National Weather Service
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Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com.