Honestly, if you're standing on Chestnut Street right now looking at the sky, you've probably noticed it looks like a giant grey wool blanket. That’s just January for you. People think New Jersey winters are all about massive blizzards and knee-deep drifts, but the weather for Roselle NJ is usually a lot more "slush and shiver" than "winter wonderland."
Right now, it’s about 32°F out there. It feels like 27°F because the wind is kicking up at 5 mph from the south. Basically, if you aren't wearing the "good" coat, you’re feeling it.
The Messy Reality of Today's Forecast
Saturday, January 17, 2026, is shaping up to be a classic Union County mix. We’re looking at a high of 38°F and a low of 31°F. That’s that annoying range where the sky can’t decide if it wants to be a liquid or a solid.
The day-time condition is literally "rain and snow." Not exactly a postcard. There’s an 80% chance of precipitation, and while the "type" is listed as snow, that 38-degree high means a lot of it is going to turn into a grey, salty slurry on the roads.
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Nighttime settles into a simpler, cloudy 31°F. The wind shifts southwest at 8 mph. If you're driving home late from Linden or Elizabeth, just watch the overpasses. That one-degree drop below freezing is exactly when the black ice likes to show up and ruin everyone's weekend.
Why January in Roselle is Kinda Unique
Roselle sits in this weird pocket. We get the "Urban Heat Island" effect from being so close to Newark and New York City, but we’re just far enough inland that we don't always get the "ocean buffer" that keeps the Jersey Shore warmer.
The coldest month of the year here is officially January.
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Average highs usually hover around 41°F, but we’ve seen plenty of days where it struggles to break 27°F. Humidity today is sitting at 65%, which is why the air feels "heavy" and damp rather than that crisp, dry cold you get in the mountains. It's the kind of cold that finds the gap between your scarf and your neck.
What the History Books Actually Say
Don't let the 38-degree high fool you into thinking it's always mild. Historically, the Garden State has a temper.
In recent years, we've seen Augusts that broke records for heat—ranking as some of the hottest since 1895. But in the winter? It's a game of averages. The "cold season" here usually drags on for about 3.3 months, ending somewhere around March 11.
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If you're looking for sun, you're in the wrong month. January is the cloudiest month of the year in Roselle. The sky is overcast or mostly cloudy about 53% of the time. You've basically got a coin flip’s chance of seeing any blue sky at all.
Survival Tips for the Roselle Commute
Since the average commute for people living in the borough is about 30 minutes, the weather for Roselle NJ actually dictates your morning mood more than your coffee does.
When you see "rain and snow" on the forecast like we have today, the Garden State Parkway becomes a giant parking lot. People forget how to drive in the white stuff every single year. It’s a tradition.
Practical steps for the next 24 hours:
- Check the tires. Seriously. If they're bald, that 31°F low tonight is going to make your driveway an ice rink.
- Layer the moisture-wicking stuff. With 67% humidity today, if you sweat in your heavy parka while clearing the car, you're going to stay damp and miserable all day.
- Salt early. Don't wait for the 80% chance of snow to finish. Putting down a layer of salt now prevents the bottom layer from bonding to the pavement.
- Watch the wind. A south wind at 5 mph sounds like nothing, but in the open spots near the parks, it’ll cut right through a light sweater.
The UV index today is a 1. You don't need the sunscreen, but you definitely need the boots. By the time this system moves through tonight, we'll likely be looking at less than an inch of actual accumulation, but plenty of damp sidewalks to navigate tomorrow morning.