Heavy Snow in New Jersey, April 9 to 10, 1996

A low pressure system developed near Cape Hatteras the morning of the 9th, intensified and moved slowly northeast during the next 24 hours. It reached Cape Cod the morning of the 10th. This caused a late season rain and snow storm across New Jersey with the heaviest accumulations along Coastal New Jersey. Precipitation started as rain in Southern New Jersey and a rain and snow mixture farther north during the predawn hours on the 9th. Precipitation type became intensity dependent during the day on the 9th. When precipitation became heavier, it fell as snow; when its intensity decreased, it changed back to rain. Nevertheless above freezing temperatures plus indirect radiation from the April sun caused much of the snow to melt as it reached the ground during the day.As sunset arrived (after 7 p.m. EDT), the snow began to accumulate mainly on grassy areas and overpasses across the area. But, this was not the case across coastal New Jersey where bands of heavy wet snow began accumulating on all surfaces including roadways. By the evening hours, the heaviest precipitation was mainly confined to the east of the New Jersey Turnpike. Accumulations inland averaged around 2 inches, but along the coast increased to 5 to 8 inches. Roads and overpasses became slippery and this resulted in accidents. Along coastal New Jersey, the accumulating snow started causing power outages as the heavy wet snow pulled tree limbs and power lines down. Hardest hit were Point Pleasant, Point Pleasant Beach, Toms River, Brick, Lakewood, Seaside Heights, Manchester, Lakehurst, Waretown and Tuckerton. In all about 59,000 Jersey Central Power and Light customers lost power, mainly in southern Ocean County. About 15,000 still did not have power 24 hours later. A Red Cross Shelter was opened in Manchester. In Atlantic County, about 10,000 customers lost power starting at about 645 pm EDT on the 9th. All but 600 had power restored by 4 a.m. EDT on the 10th.Specific accumulations included 8 inches in Egg Harbor City, Cape May, Toms River, Brick Township and Matawan; 7 inches in Mays Landing; 5 inches in Pomona (Atlantic City International Airport), Ocean City, Freehold and Estelle Manor and 4 inches in Vineland.