Winter in Pompton Plains isn't just about checking a generic app and hoping for the best. Honestly, if you live anywhere near the Pequannock River, you know the "official" Newark or New York City forecasts basically mean nothing once the wind hits our corner of Morris County.
Right now, things are looking pretty typical for a Jersey January, but with a few twists.
The Current Situation on the Ground
As of Saturday, January 17, 2026, we’re sitting at 34°F. It feels colder, though. The "feels like" temperature is hovering around 28°F thanks to a 6 mph breeze coming out of the southwest. It’s mostly cloudy, and the humidity is high at 87%, which gives the air that heavy, damp chill that sinks right into your bones.
If you’re heading out tonight, keep the snow shovel handy. There’s a 70% chance of snow today, with about a 35% chance of it lingering into the night. It's not a blizzard, but it's enough to make the Newark Pompton Turnpike a bit slick.
Why Pompton Plains Weather is a Different Beast
Most people don't realize that Pequannock Township sits in a bit of a geographical bowl. We’ve got the Pequannock, Ramapo, and Wanaque rivers all converging nearby. This doesn't just impact flood risks—it creates a microclimate.
Ever notice how it can be raining in Wayne but snowing here? That’s the "valley effect." Cold air gets trapped in the low-lying areas of the Plains, while the surrounding hills stay just a degree or two warmer.
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The Week Ahead: A Frigid Reality Check
If you’re hoping for a "January Thaw," you might want to adjust your expectations. The next few days are going to be a rollercoaster of typical Jersey winter volatility.
- Sunday, January 18: Expect more snow showers. The high will stay around 33°F, but the low is going to tank to 19°F overnight.
- Monday, January 19: We finally see some sun for MLK Day, but don’t let the blue skies fool you. It’s going to be a "dry cold" with a high of 30°F and a brutal low of 13°F.
- Tuesday, January 20: This is the day to stay inside. We’re looking at a high of only 21°F. Overnight, it drops to a bone-chilling 8°F.
By Wednesday, we get a slight reprieve with a high of 27°F, and things actually "warm up" to 40°F by next Thursday, January 22. That 40-degree mark is going to feel like tropical weather after those single-digit nights.
The Flooding Elephant in the Room
You can't talk about a weather forecast in Pompton Plains without mentioning the rivers. Local experts, including the Township’s Flood Resilience Officer, are constantly monitoring the gauges at Macopin and Oak Ridge.
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Currently, the Pequannock River at Macopin is well below the 5.5-foot minor flood stage, sitting at roughly 2 feet. But here’s the thing: with the ground already saturated from a wet December and more snow on the way, the "100-year flood" talk starts making people nervous.
Local officials often point out that a "100-year flood" is a bit of a misnomer. It actually means there’s a 1% chance of a base flood happening every single year. In a place like Pequannock, we’ve seen these "rare" events happen multiple times in a decade.
Survival Tips for the 07444 Winter
Honestly, the best way to handle this week is prep. Here is what's actually happening: the dew point is low, the humidity is fluctuating, and the wind from the northwest is going to start picking up by early next week.
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Watch the "Refreeze"
With Sunday’s snow showers followed by Monday’s 13-degree low, Monday morning is going to be an ice rink. Black ice is a genuine hazard on the back roads near the golf course and the high school.
Check the Drains
If you’ve got a storm drain near your driveway, clear the slush now. When that Thursday warmup hits 40°F, all that melting snow needs somewhere to go. If the drain is blocked by a frozen pile of slush, your yard is going to turn into a private pond.
The Polar Vortex Threat
Meteorologists like Joe Martucci and the team at the NJ Weather Network are watching a weakening Polar Vortex. This means that while we’re seeing 30s and 40s now, the end of January could bring another "Arctic Blast."
Practical Next Steps
- Prep for Tuesday: Make sure your car battery is in good shape before the temperature hits 8°F on Tuesday night. Extreme cold is the #1 killer of older batteries.
- Monitor River Levels: If you're in a low-lying zone, bookmark the NOAA National Water Prediction Service page for the Pequannock River at Macopin. It’s the most accurate way to see real-time data.
- Salt Early: Since we have high humidity (87%) right now, any moisture on the ground is going to freeze hard tonight. A light layer of salt before the sun goes down will save you a lot of chipping tomorrow morning.
The weather forecast pompton plains nj is showing us that winter is officially in the driver's seat. Stay warm, stay dry, and keep an eye on those river gauges.