If you’re staring out your window in New Jersey right now, you’re probably either looking at a fresh dusting or wondering if you should’ve bought that extra bag of rock salt yesterday. Honestly, the Garden State has a weird relationship with winter. One day you’re wearing a light fleece in 50-degree weather, and twelve hours later, you're digging out your car while wondering when will it snow new jersey in enough volume to actually matter.
Well, if you're looking for the short answer: it’s happening right now. As of Sunday, January 18, 2026, a winter weather advisory is in full effect across a huge chunk of the state. We’ve already seen a "back-to-back" storm setup that started on Saturday and is pushing through today.
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The Immediate Outlook: Snow is Literally on the Doorstep
Let's talk about today, Sunday, January 18. If you’re in Newark, Jersey City, or anywhere along that I-95 corridor, you’ve likely seen intermittent flakes already. Forecasters are calling for a steady 1 to 3 inches through the evening. It’s not a "bread and milk" emergency, but it's enough to make the Garden State Parkway feel like a skating rink.
The weird thing about this specific storm is how it shifted. Originally, it was supposed to be a coastal "blip," but it took a westward nudge on Saturday afternoon. Now, all 21 counties are likely to see some accumulation.
Why this storm is kinda tricky
- The Temperature Cliff: It’s currently 31°F in many spots, but the ground is still holding onto a bit of warmth from a milder stretch. That means the first inch or so might just turn into a slushy mess before the "good" stuff sticks.
- The Wind Factor: We’re looking at a north wind at about 7 mph today, which isn't crazy, but it’s bringing in that cold air needed to keep the precipitation from turning into just another rainy January afternoon.
- The Shore Exception: Down in Cape May or Atlantic City, it’s a different story. The ocean acts like a giant space heater, often turning what should be a beautiful snowfall into a soggy, 38-degree rain shower.
Looking Down the Road: The Rest of January 2026
If you miss out on today's accumulation, don't worry. The long-range modeling suggests we aren't done yet. Monday and Tuesday (January 19-20) look like they'll be brutally cold but bone-dry. We’re talking lows near 11°F in the interior parts of the state.
Basically, whatever freezes tonight is staying frozen for a while.
The next "real" window for flakes seems to be hovering around Sunday, January 25, through Monday, January 26. The Climate Prediction Center has flagged a "slight risk" of heavy snow for the Northeast during that window. Some models are showing a potential for 4 inches or more as a system pulls moisture from the Great Lakes and meets up with the Atlantic moisture.
The Science of Why New Jersey Snow is So Hard to Predict
Ask any local meteorologist and they’ll tell you: New Jersey is a forecasting nightmare. We are sandwiched between the Appalachian Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. This creates a "battleground" where cold air from Canada fights with the warm, moist air from the Gulf Stream.
The La Niña Reality
We’re currently in a weak La Niña cycle. Historically, this means New Jersey sees more "wetter" winters rather than just "snowier" ones. It’s a subtle difference, but a huge one for your back. Instead of 10 inches of light, fluffy powder, we often get 4 inches of heavy, heart-attack snow mixed with sleet.
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Since the early 1990s, we’ve actually seen a trend where La Niña years result in more seasonal snow than they used to. It's not a guarantee, but the "weak" La Niña we're experiencing through early 2026 actually gives us a better chance for those 4-to-8-inch events rather than the massive 2-foot blizzards.
What You Should Actually Do Now
Stop obsessing over the 10-day forecast icons. They change every six hours. Instead, focus on the 48-hour window which is where the accuracy lives.
If you’re planning travel for the week of January 26, keep a very close eye on the Sunday night/Monday morning transition. That looks like our next significant "impact" event. For today, just make sure your windshield wipers aren't frozen to the glass.
Actionable Next Steps:
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- Check the "Feels Like" Temp: Today it's 31°F, but it feels like 27°F. Dress for the latter.
- Ice Treatment: With temperatures dropping to 17°F tomorrow night, any slush on your driveway will become a sheet of ice by Monday morning. Salt it before the sun goes down today.
- Track the "Miller B": Keep an eye out for mentions of "Miller B" storm tracks in the news. These are the ones that start in the south and "re-develop" off the coast of Jersey—they are the primary reason people ask when will it snow new jersey because they deliver the most surprise accumulation.
Stay warm, and maybe keep the shovel by the door at least through the end of the month.