If you were hoping for a quiet, cozy weekend to just cruise through the middle of January, New Jersey’s atmosphere has other plans. It’s messy. Honestly, the weather in New Jersey this weekend is looking like a classic Garden State "wait and see" situation where the difference between a dry sidewalk and a slippery driveway comes down to just a couple of degrees and a few miles of shift in the wind.
Right now, we are smack in the middle of what is historically the coldest week of the year for NJ. If you felt that bite in the air on Friday morning, you know exactly what I mean. Temperatures struggled to climb out of the 20s, and the wind gusts—some hitting over 20 mph—made it feel like single digits in spots like Sussex and Morristown.
But the real story isn't just the cold. It’s the two distinct "impulses" (as meteorologists like Dan Zarrow from NJ 101.5 call them) that are aiming for us on Saturday and Sunday.
What to Expect From Weather in New Jersey This Weekend
Saturday is going to be a bit of a tease. We’re actually seeing a tiny "warmup," if you can even call it that. After a frigid Friday night with lows hovering around 20 degrees, Saturday afternoon might actually see thermometers hit the low 40s in South Jersey and the mid-30s up north.
Don't let that fool you into leaving the parka at home.
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A weak system is sliding through on Saturday morning. It’s not a blizzard. It’s not even really a "storm" in the traditional sense. It’s more of a nuisance. Most of the state is looking at light, conversational snow—the kind that looks pretty but mostly just coats the grass. However, as that warmer air nudges in during the afternoon, that snow will likely transition into a cold, raw rain or a wintry mix.
Saturday’s Timing and Impact
- Morning (6 AM - 11 AM): Expect light snow showers to develop, especially in North and Central Jersey. A coating to perhaps an inch is possible on cold surfaces.
- Afternoon (12 PM - 5 PM): Temperatures climb toward 40°F. Snow turns to rain or sleet. It’s going to be gray, damp, and generally miserable for outdoor plans.
- Evening: Things taper off, but damp roads could become an issue as temperatures start to dive again after sunset.
The Sunday Snow Threat: A Tale of Two Tracks
Sunday is the day that has everyone checking their weather apps every twenty minutes. While Saturday is a "nuisance" event, Sunday carries a bit more potential for actual accumulation, though the computer models are still bickering over the details.
Here is the deal: We have a storm system moving up the coast. If it stays offshore, we just get a few flurries and a lot of clouds. If it hugs the coast—what we call a "Westward Track"—we could be looking at several hours of steady, fluffy snow from midday through Sunday evening.
Current data from the National Weather Service suggests that South Jersey and the coastal counties (Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic, and Cape May) have the highest chance of seeing an inch or two of "sticky" snow.
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Up in the northwest, like in High Point or Vernon, it’s going to be cold enough for anything that falls to stay white, but they might be too far from the moisture to get much. It’s a classic Jersey paradox. The places cold enough for snow might not get the moisture, and the places with the moisture might stay just a hair too warm.
The "Flash Freeze" Risk You Need to Know About
There is something much more dangerous than a couple of inches of snow: the flash freeze.
As we head into Sunday night and Monday morning (Martin Luther King Jr. Day), a fresh blast of Arctic air is going to come roaring into the state. We’re talking about lows dropping into the teens or even the single digits by Monday morning.
Think about it. You have rain and melting snow on Saturday. You have a bit of slush on Sunday. Then, on Sunday night, the floor drops out. Anything that is wet on the roads is going to turn into a sheet of black ice. This is exactly how those multi-car pileups happen on the Parkway or the Turnpike. If the road looks wet on Sunday night, assume it’s frozen.
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Beyond the Weekend: The Deep Freeze
If you think this weekend sounds chilly, wait until Tuesday. The weather in New Jersey this weekend is just the opening act for a truly brutal cold snap.
Meteorologists are tracking a significant surge of Canadian air that will likely keep high temperatures in the 20s for much of next week. Some inland spots in North Jersey might not even break 20°F on Tuesday afternoon.
Practical Steps for New Jersey Residents
Since the forecast is still wiggling a bit, you’ve gotta be proactive. Don't wait until Sunday afternoon to find your ice scraper.
- Salt early: If you get that coating of snow on Saturday morning, clear it before it melts and refreezes. Brining your sidewalk now can prevent that "ice bond" that makes shoveling impossible later.
- Check your tires: Cold air makes tire pressure drop. If your "low pressure" light came on Friday morning, fill them up now. Better traction is non-negotiable on Sunday night.
- Watch the "Dry Slot": Sometimes these coastal storms "dry slot" us, meaning the moisture gets sucked away and we get nothing. Don't be surprised if the forecast totals drop on Saturday night—but don't bet your commute on it.
- Protect the pipes: With lows hitting the single digits by Monday night/Tuesday morning, make sure your outdoor hoses are disconnected and any vulnerable pipes in crawlspaces are insulated.
The bottom line? This weekend isn't a "state of emergency" type of event, but it is a "stay alert" event. It’s a mess of transitions—snow to rain, rain to snow, and eventually, everything to ice. Keep an eye on local radars, especially on Sunday afternoon, and maybe just plan on staying off the roads once the sun goes down on Sunday night.