The Poconos and northwest New Jersey will receive the highest snowfall, with snow accumulations anticipated to be between 1 and 3 inches. Regions located to the north and west of the I-95 corridor can expect a mix of rain and snow throughout Friday, which will then transition into light snowfall by Friday night.
Rain will be the primary form of precipitation in the areas located south and east of the I-95 corridor. There is a chance of a brief period of snow late Friday night, but it is not expected to accumulate to more than 1 inch in these regions.
Thursday, December 19th promises a delightful day in the region, with mostly sunny skies and a high temperature reaching 41°F. Gentle northwest winds of 5 to 10 mph, occasionally gusting up to 20 mph, will provide a pleasant breeze. As the day progresses, clouds will gradually gather, preparing for a change in the weather. Tonight, temperatures will dip to around 27°F, accompanied by calm winds. However, after midnight, the winds will shift to the northeast, maintaining a gentle speed of around 5 mph. This shift in wind direction sets the stage for Friday’s anticipated wintry mix.
Snow is forecasted to start on Friday afternoon, around 1 p.m., amidst cloudy skies. The temperature is expected to reach a maximum of 35°F. Throughout the day, snowfall is anticipated to be minimal, with the possibility of less than an inch of new accumulations.
Snowfall is expected to intensify by Friday night, primarily before 1 a.m., as temperatures drop to around 26°F. Overnight, we can expect snow accumulations of 1 to 2 inches. Despite the snowfall, the winds will be calm, creating relatively still conditions. The chance of precipitation on Friday night is 70%.
The snow is forecasted to diminish by Saturday morning, with a small possibility of flurries before 1 p.m. The skies will gradually become partly sunny, and temperatures will reach a peak of 32°F. However, a brisk northwest wind blowing at 10 to 15 mph will create a chill in the air.
Forecasters are issuing warnings of a significant drop in temperatures over the weekend. Overnight lows are expected to plummet into the teens and single digits across the region, resulting in bitterly cold conditions.