Powerful Cross-Country Storm To Hit NJ: See Latest Forecast

NEW JERSEY — A widespread winter storm will leave New Jersey without measurable snow, but it could still cause some headaches for the state, according to weather officials. Forecasters expect heavy rain and powerful winds Thursday night, with strong gusts lingering into Friday.

"Snow-starved fans of winter weather will have to wait," said a Tuesday morning forecast discussion from the National Weather Service's Mount Holly office.

The National Weather Service hasn't ruled out a mixture of rain and snow for northwestern New Jersey on Wednesday night. However, the agency expects less than a half-inch of snow to accumulate.

But rainy, windy conditions should impact New Jersey from later Thursday through early Friday, the National Weather Service says. Rainfall amounts of a half-inch to an inch are possible Thursday night, as gusts of 30-40 mph — with briefly higher gusts possible — blow through much of the state.

The agency expects gusty winds to linger into Friday. But rainfall will likely taper off for most by the morning, according to the National Weather Service's Mount Holly office.

The National Weather Service's New York office, which covers northeast Jersey, hasn't published wind-speed estimates as of Tuesday morning.

As New Jersey primarily receives rain, AccuWeather expects a coast-to-coast storm to bring a mix of snow, ice and rain into the Northeast and Midwest.

The rain and wind could still cause issues along the Interstate 95 corridor Thursday night into early Friday.

"The combination of rain and wind can lead to many travel problems on the roads and delays at airports," AccuWeather says.

Once the storm passes, the National Weather Service expects a colder, breezy weekend in New Jersey. However, climate forecasts show a 60-80 percent chance of warmer-than-usual weather in the region from Friday through Feb. 3.

Here's the National Weather Service's latest North Jersey forecast:

• Wednesday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 42. Northeast wind 3 to 6 mph.
• Wednesday night: Mostly cloudy, with a steady temperature around 38. East wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.
• Thursday: A slight chance of showers between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., then a chance of rain after 2 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 54. Light east wind becoming southeast 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.
• Thursday night: Rain, mainly after 8 p.m. Steady temperature around 51. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
• Friday: Rain, mainly before 2 p.m. High near 53. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent.
• Friday night: A 50 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37.
• Saturday: A 30 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44.
• Saturday night: A 30 percent chance of rain before 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31.
• Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 42.

Here's the agency's latest South Jersey forecast:

• Wednesday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 45. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
• Wednesday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. East wind around 5 mph becoming southeast after midnight.
• Thursday: A slight chance of rain after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 54. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
• Thursday night: Rain, mainly after 8 p.m. Low around 49. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
• Friday: Showers likely, mainly before 1 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 54. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
• Friday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35.
• Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 44. Breezy.
• Saturday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. Blustery.
• Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 44. Breezy.