Snow Cravings Continue (Dec 31-Jan 4)

Discussion: There is no point in sugar coating it. 2019 will end mild and wet and the first week or two of January also looks relatively mild. For those who dislike snow this should come as good news. For the snow lover this should downright sting. The first and best possibility of the year was looking like this Friday but even that has trended warmer. Upper-level heights look above-average through pretty much the first half of January but that’s not to say the entire winter is over. It’s an El Nino winter so the overall expectation is mild. If we’re going to get any snow storms it will have to be during transient and well-timed periods of cold. The January 2016 snow storm is a good example of a large snow storm in the middle of a mild winter. We’ll just have to see how it shakes out. For now…mild and wet with transient cold between.

Monday (Dec 31) high temperatures should range from lower-40s to lower-50s. Skies should increase in cloudiness early. Periods of rainfall are likely. Winds should be light out of the SE. Overnight lows should fall into the 40s for most.

Tuesday (Jan 1) high temperatures should reach near-60 for most. Skies should be partly sunny. Winds should be breezy out of the W. Overnight lows should range from mid-20s to mid-30s NNJ to SNJ.

Wednesday (Jan 2) high temperatures should reach the upper-30s/lower-40s for most. Skies should be partly sunny. Winds should be light out of the NW. Overnight lows should range from mid-20s to mid-30s NNJ to SNJ.

Thursday (Jan 3) high temperatures should reach the low-to-mid 40s for most. Skies should transition from partly cloudy to mostly cloudy. Winds should be light out of the SW. Overnight lows should range from mid-20s to mid-30s NNJ to SNJ as precipitation moves in. Wintry precipitation is possible for areas below freezing which currently looks like NWNJ/NNJ only for now.

Friday (Jan 4) high temperatures should range from lower-40s to lower-50s NNJ to SNJ. Skies should be mostly cloudy. Winds should be breezy out of the W. Overnight lows should range from upper-20s to mid-30s NNJ to SNJ. NNJ elevations have the best chance to see wintry precipitation. I need another day or two before making accumulation predictions.

An early look at the weekend indicates dry and sunny conditions with highs in the 40s and lows in the 20s/30s for most. No major snow storms are expected through next weekend. I hope you are enjoying the new Weather NJ mobile app on Apple and Android.

Jonathan Carr

Jonathan Carr (JC) is the founder and sole operator of Weather NJ, New Jersey’s largest independent weather reporting agency. Since 2010, Jonathan has provided weather safety and forecasting services for New Jersey and immediate surrounding areas through the web, social media, and app spaces. Originally branded as Severe NJ Weather (before 2014), Weather NJ is proud to bring you accurate and responsible discussions ahead of high-stakes weather scenarios that impact the garden state. All Weather. All New Jersey.™