Heavy Snow and High Wind in New Jersey, March 31, 1997

Name: Heavy Snow and High Wind in New Jersey, March 31, 1997
Start: 1997-03-31T07:00
End: 1997-03-31T23:59
Location: New Jersey

March 31, 1997 · NWS PHI · 34 events in 20 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 34 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 34

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS PHI wrote it up.

A late season snowstorm dropped some of the heaviest snow of all winter across New Jersey from the morning of March 31st into the morning of April 1st. The low pressure system responsible for this looked rather innocuous on March 30th as it moved with its associated cold front through the Midwest. Temperatures that day (Easter Sunday) warmed into the 50s and 60s across the area. But as the low intensified off the New Jersey Coast on the 31st, it pulled down colder air. The heavy precipitation it created also cooled the atmosphere and changed the rain over to snow. The rain changed to snow close to dawn across extreme Northwest New Jersey. The changeover progressed southeast reaching the rest of Northwest New Jersey around 9 a.m. EST and the Greater Philadelphia Metropolitan Area close to noon EST. Bands of heavier snow moved through the Middle Atlantic States and caused wide variations in accumulations that were both location (underneath these bands) and elevation dependent. A pocket of warm air associated with the low pressure system itself kept precipitation as rain longer across East Central New Jersey and held accumulations down.Sussex and Warren Counties along with the northwest part of Morris County were hit the hardest. A limited state of emergency was declared in Sussex County. Shelters were opened in 12 municipalities. Vernon Township within Sussex County declared a state of emergency that banned all driving. The combination of heavy wet snow, up to around two feet in some areas, and strong winds produced numerous power outages. GPU reported 75,000 homes lost power in Morris, Sussex and Warren Counties with the majority in Sussex County. Full power was not restored in all areas until April 3rd. Trees were described as being "down all over the place". Downed trees also closed most of the major roadways in Sussex County including New Jersey State Routes 15 and 23 (closed through April. 1st) and County Roads 515 and 517. Accumulations in Sussex and Warren Counties included 26 inches at High Point, 22 inches in Wantage, 19 inches in Sussex, 18 inches in Hackettstown, 17 inches in Sparta, 15 inches in Montague and 14 inches in Washington. In Morris County, the differences of location and elevation came to play with this storm. Only 2 inches of snow accumulated in Morristown in the southeast part of the county, while 24 inches accumulated in Jefferson Township at the northwest end of the county. During the storm U.S. Route 46 was described as a parking lot. Heavy wet snow downed trees and at least damaged one home within Kinnelon Borough. Strong gusty winds and the heavy wet snow continued to cause problems on April 1st even after the snow ended as downed trees closed U.S. Route 46 and New Jersey State Route 24 for several hours. Other accumulations within the county included 15 inches in Long Valley, Mount Arlington and Mount Olive and 14 inches in Rockaway.In West Central New Jersey, accumulations were generally less. But several bands of heavier snow brought season high accumulations to sections of Hunterdon, Somerset, Mercer and Burlington Counties. While there were less road closures, the combination of wind and heavy wet snow did cause an additional 34,000 homes and businesses within Public Service Electric and Gas's service area to lose power. About 25,000 of the outages were centered in Princeton and nearby communities. All power was restored by the evening of the 1st. In Princeton Township, about two dozen downed trees forced the closure of 10 roadways. In Princeton Borough, one tree fell and crushed a porch. There were about twenty reports of downed trees and limbs that forced three road closures. In Somerset County, Bernardsville was hit the hardest with up to 30 trees down that forced 6 road closures. Accumulations included 18 inches in Califon (Hunterdon County), 10 inches in Willingboro (Burlington County), 9 inches in Pottersville (Somerset County), 8 inches in Wertsville (Hunterdon County), Somerville (Somerset County) and Mercerville (Mercer County) and 6 inches in Mount Holly (Burlington County).In the rest of the state, accumulations were less as more precipitation fell as rain. They averaged around 5 inches in Camden, Gloucester and Salem Counties, ranged between 3 and 6 inches in Western Atlantic and Cumberland Counties, and averaged around 3 inches in Middlesex, Monmouth and Western Ocean Counties. Little if any snow accumulated from Coastal Ocean County southward. But, wind gusts were stronger near the New Jersey Shore and power outages due to downed trees increased again. Downed trees and limbs caused power outages in Monmouth and Ocean Counties in Howell Township, Lacey Township, Lakewood Township, Millstone Township, Tinton Falls and Wall Township. Peak wind gusts included 71 mph in Harvey Cedars (Ocean County), 64 mph in North Wildwood (Cape May County), 60 mph in Seaside Park (Ocean County) and 58 mph aboard the Cape May/Lewes Ferry. The strong winds forced a reduction in the number of departures by the ferry across Delaware Bay.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

14 strong wind, 12 heavy snow, 6 high wind, 2 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Sussex

When: March 31, 7:00 AM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Sussex forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.140, -74.690 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Western Ocean

When: March 31, 8:00 AM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Western Ocean forecast zone
Coordinates: 39.866, -74.250 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Western Monmouth

When: March 31, 8:00 AM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Western Monmouth forecast zone
Coordinates: 40.288, -74.158 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Eastern Ocean

When: March 31, 8:00 AM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Eastern Ocean forecast zone
Measured: 62 kt (71 mph)
Coordinates: 39.866, -74.250 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Eastern Monmouth

When: March 31, 8:00 AM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Eastern Monmouth forecast zone
Coordinates: 40.288, -74.158 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Eastern Cape May

When: March 31, 8:00 AM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Eastern Cape May forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph)
Coordinates: 39.085, -74.850 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Eastern Atlantic

When: March 31, 8:00 AM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Eastern Atlantic forecast zone
Coordinates: 39.469, -74.634 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Western Cape May

When: March 31, 8:00 AM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Western Cape May forecast zone
Coordinates: 39.085, -74.850 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Western Atlantic

When: March 31, 8:00 AM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Western Atlantic forecast zone
Coordinates: 39.469, -74.634 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Warren

When: March 31, 8:00 AM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Warren forecast zone
Coordinates: 40.857, -74.997 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Sussex

When: March 31, 8:00 AM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Sussex forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.140, -74.690 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Somerset

When: March 31, 8:00 AM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Somerset forecast zone
Coordinates: 40.564, -74.616 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Salem

When: March 31, 8:00 AM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Salem forecast zone
Coordinates: 39.577, -75.358 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Morris

When: March 31, 8:00 AM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Morris forecast zone
Coordinates: 40.862, -74.544 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Middlesex

When: March 31, 8:00 AM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Middlesex forecast zone
Coordinates: 40.440, -74.409 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Mercer

When: March 31, 8:00 AM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Mercer forecast zone
Coordinates: 40.283, -74.702 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Hunterdon

When: March 31, 8:00 AM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Hunterdon forecast zone
Coordinates: 40.567, -74.912 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Gloucester

When: March 31, 8:00 AM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Gloucester forecast zone
Coordinates: 39.717, -75.142 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Cumberland

When: March 31, 8:00 AM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Cumberland forecast zone
Coordinates: 39.328, -75.129 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Camden

When: March 31, 8:00 AM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Camden forecast zone
Coordinates: 39.804, -74.960 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Burlington

When: March 31, 8:00 AM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Burlington forecast zone
Coordinates: 39.878, -74.668 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Warren

When: March 31, 9:00 AM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Warren forecast zone
Coordinates: 40.857, -74.997 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Morris

When: March 31, 9:00 AM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Morris forecast zone
Coordinates: 40.862, -74.544 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Somerset

When: March 31, 11:00 AM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Somerset forecast zone
Coordinates: 40.564, -74.616 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Mercer

When: March 31, 11:00 AM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Mercer forecast zone
Coordinates: 40.283, -74.702 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Hunterdon

When: March 31, 11:00 AM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Hunterdon forecast zone
Coordinates: 40.567, -74.912 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Gloucester

When: March 31, 12:00 PM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Gloucester forecast zone
Coordinates: 39.717, -75.142 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Camden

When: March 31, 12:00 PM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Camden forecast zone
Coordinates: 39.804, -74.960 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Burlington

When: March 31, 12:00 PM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Burlington forecast zone
Coordinates: 39.878, -74.668 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Middlesex

When: March 31, 1:00 PM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Middlesex forecast zone
Coordinates: 40.440, -74.409 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Eastern Monmouth

When: March 31, 1:00 PM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Eastern Monmouth forecast zone
Coordinates: 40.288, -74.158 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Western Atlantic

When: March 31, 1:00 PM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Western Atlantic forecast zone
Coordinates: 39.469, -74.634 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Salem

When: March 31, 1:00 PM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Salem forecast zone
Coordinates: 39.577, -75.358 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Cumberland

When: March 31, 1:00 PM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Cumberland forecast zone
Coordinates: 39.328, -75.129 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
Strong Wind: Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.
Winter Weather: Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in New Jersey in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings in New Jersey, March 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5599941, 5599917, 5599918, 5599919, 5599920, 5599921, 5599922, 5599923, 5599924, 5599925, 5599926, 5599927, 5599928, 5599929, 5599930, 5599931, 5599932, 5599933, 5599934, 5599935, 5599936, 5599940, 5601282, 5601280, 5601283, 5601284, 5601285, 5601287, 5601288, 5599937, 5599938, 5599939, 5601281, 5601286.