Honestly, if you’ve spent any time in Morris County, you know the drill. You check the forecast for Morristown or Dover, step outside in Mine Hill, and realize the atmosphere didn’t get the memo. It’s kinda fascinating how a few hundred feet of elevation—Mine Hill sits notably higher than its neighbors—can turn a light drizzle in the valley into a full-blown icy mess on your windshield.
Right now, as of late night January 15, 2026, the current temperature in Mine Hill Township is 19°F. But that’s a bit of a lie. With a 13 mph wind kicking in from the west, it actually feels like 6°F. If you’re heading out to start your car or taking the dog for a quick loop, you’ve basically got a clear sky with some periodic clouds, but that humidity is sitting at 50%. It’s that crisp, biting Jersey cold that gets right into your bones.
Why the Mine Hill microclimate is a real thing
Most people think New Jersey is flat. They’re wrong. Mine Hill is part of the Highlands, and that name isn't just marketing. When a storm system rolls in from the west, it hits these ridges and gets forced upward. Meteorologists call this orographic lift, but for us, it just means we get the "winter mix" while everyone else gets rain.
Take a look at the history from just the last few weeks. Since the end of December 2025, we’ve seen a relentless cycle of snow squalls and freezing rain. On December 28th and 29th, we had an icy night of freezing rain that made the local hills a nightmare. Then, between December 31st and New Year's Day, a snow squall capped off the year. While the rest of the state was seeing a soggy holiday, we were dealing with actual accumulation.
The upcoming week: Buckle up for more snow
If you were hoping for a break, I’ve got some bad news. The forecast for the next few days looks like a standard Morris County winter gauntlet.
- Friday, Jan 16: We’re looking at a high of 32°F and a low of 17°F. It’ll start partly sunny, but don’t let that fool you. By nighttime, there’s a 35% chance of snow showers.
- Saturday, Jan 17: This is the big one for the weekend. We have a 65% chance of snow during the day with a high of 35°F. The wind will shift south at 8 mph, and humidity will spike to 77%. It’s going to be that heavy, wet snow—the kind that’s a literal heartbreaker to shovel.
- The Deep Freeze: By Monday and Tuesday (Jan 19-20), the mercury is going to crater. We’re talking a high of only 16°F on Tuesday with lows staying around 10°F.
The historical "Normal" isn't so normal anymore
Usually, Mine Hill averages a January high of about 38°F and a low near 17°F. We are currently trending a bit colder than those historical averages. It’s worth noting that the region has been seeing more "elevation-dependent" storms lately. This basically means if you live at the top of the hill near the old mines, you might have four inches of snow, while your friend at the bottom in Dover has a wet driveway.
Water is also a huge factor here. Mine Hill has an annual precipitation average of about 51 inches. That's a lot of moisture. When you combine that with the rocky terrain and the steep slopes typical of Morris County, you have to watch out for more than just ice. Rapid snowmelt or heavy rain can actually trigger slumps or debris flows—basically mini-landslides—because the soil gets so saturated. It’s something the USGS and Morris County emergency management keep a close eye on, especially during these "wintry mix to rain" transitions.
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Surviving the Mine Hill winter
You’ve probably noticed that the wind here feels different. Because we don't have the same windbreaks as the more developed valley towns, those 15-16 mph gusts from the west and southwest hit harder. It’s why the "feels like" temperature is almost always 10 degrees lower than the actual reading during the winter months.
So, what should you actually do with this info?
First, stop trusting the "Statewide" weather report. It’s useless for us. If they say it's 40 degrees in New Brunswick, it’s probably 32 here. Second, pay attention to the humidity and wind direction. A south wind on Saturday is bringing in that moisture for the 65% snow chance, but that 16 mph west wind on Monday is bringing the arctic air that’ll freeze everything solid.
Your Action Plan:
- Salt early: With the snow showers expected Friday night and a heavier hit on Saturday, get your brine or salt down before the sun goes down Friday.
- Check the gaskets: With temps dropping to 10°F next week, make sure your car door seals are dry so they don't freeze shut.
- Watch the slopes: If you live on a steeper grade, keep an eye for unusual ground bulges or new cracks after the Saturday snow melts—those are the early warning signs of soil saturation issues.
Winter in the Highlands is beautiful, but it's a lot of work. Keep the shovel handy, because the 2026 season is just getting started.