The timing of this coastal storm system is incredibly bad, as poor visibility and slippery roads will make for a difficult morning commute during the peak of the peak.

UPDATE as of 8:45 a.m. on Friday...

The snow is starting to taper off along the Delaware River. That trend will continue spreading east over the next few hours. Don't get me wrong through - bands of moderate to heavy snow will still be moving across the eastern part of New Jersey through about 10 a.m.

The snow should be done completely by 1 p.m. today, and then skies will clear. Secondary roads and side streets will probably remain slushy and icy all day. And then we'll have to watch for the refreeze tonight - with lows in the 20s, there could very well be some very slippery roads and sidewalks for Saturday morning.


Snowy AM Commute 20160205
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The snow is now falling, and I expect school delays and closings to continue rolling in this morning. Here are the latest forecast bullet points:

Current warnings and watches
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A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect for most of New Jersey until late-morning. (What does that mean?)

Temperatures began dropping below the freezing mark around 3 a.m. today. As of this writing, all but the coast has seen the changeover from rain to snow. And in some spots, the snow has started to accumulate on grassy areas. (New Jersey Weather Center)

Current warnings and watches
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Wet roads will be a double-edged sword with this storm. Those wet roads will remain fairly insulated and relatively warm, so it will take longer for snow to stick and begin to accumulate. The biggest snow totals today will ultimately be found on grassy and other non-paved surfaces.

The peak of the snow is currently expected to occur during the 6 and 7 o'clock hours - again, poor timing coinciding with the morning commute. Snowfall rates over an inch an hour will be possible. This is when the snow will really start to accumulate and cause significant driving issues. (New Jersey Fast Traffic)

Snowfall accumulations are expected to end up in the 3 to 5 inch range along and east of the New Jersey Turnpike. Would I be surprised to see local amounts of 6 inches? Absolutely not. My gut tells me the "bullseye" for snow totals will be around Monmouth and Ocean counties. Meanwhile, lower snowfall amounts in the neighborhood of 1 to 3 inches, will be found in the northwest corner of the state. (Final forecast: A few inches of snow for NJ)

The snow will begin tapering through late morning, and should move completely off-shore by midday. Skies will clear this afternoon, with a brisk wind and temperatures only in the 30s.

Complete snow coverage will continue on-air today, until the final flake falls. I'll post an extended forecast blog later today, examining another chance of accumulating snow for early next week.

Dan Zarrow is the Chief Meteorologist for Townsquare Media New Jersey. Follow him on Facebook or Twitter for the latest forecast and real-time weather updates.

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