Winter Storm in New Jersey, March 28 to 29, 1996

A low pressure system developed over the Gulf Coast States the morning of the 28th. Meanwhile a high pressure system was located over New England and brought in a fresh supply of cold arctic air in the lowest levels of our atmosphere. A second low developed along the South Carolina Coast the afternoon of the 28th and moved northeast. By dawn on the 29th it was located well east of the Delmarva Peninsula. Precipitation started as snow across the area during the afternoon on the 28th. By sunset, precipitation was falling as snow over higher terrain and sleet in southern and valley locations of Morris and Sussex Counties. Overnight precipitation continued to fall as mainly snow over higher terrain and a mixture of sleet, freezing rain and rain over lower elevations. Precipitation ended as snow in Sussex County and a mixture of snow, sleet and rain in Morris County. Accumulations were very elevation dependent and ranged between 3 and 8 inches. Individual accumulations included 8 inches in Jefferson Township, 7 inches in Wantage, Montague and Budd Lake, 5 inches in Hainesville and 3 inches in Chatham. Accumulations trailed off considerably just south of the area. Only one to three inches of snow accumulated in Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren Counties.