Winter Storm in New Jersey, January 2 to 3, 1996

A low pressure system developed over the Gulf Coast States on the 2nd and moved through New Jersey on the 3rd. The storm produced heavy snow over parts of Northwest New Jersey, but its track through New Jersey helped pull in warmer air from the nearby Atlantic Ocean. Precipitation fell mainly as rain across the Southern half of New Jersey and a mixture of snow, sleet and rain in the Central part of New Jersey between Interstates 195 and 78.Snow began falling the morning of the 2nd and coincided with the first work day of the new year. It lingered through the morning of the 3rd, although the heaviest snow fell on the 2nd. The heaviest snow fell in Sussex and Morris Counties where accumulations reached six inches. One to four inches of snow fell across Warren, Hunterdon and Somerset Counties. Three weather related deaths occurred because of the storm in Northern New Jersey. A 64-year-old man died after trying to shovel the snow around his tractor trailer in Parsippany (Morris County). A 29-year-old male died when a car he was a passenger in skidded off of Interstate 80 in Knowlton Township (Warren County) and vaulted into the air striking a tree seven feet from the ground. A 64-year-old woman was killed in Frankford Township (Sussex County) when her car crossed into oncoming traffic on Sussex County Route 655. Interstate 78 slowed to a crawl in Hunterdon and Somerset Counties.