Winter Weather, Morris
- When
- March 8, 9:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
- Where
- Morris forecast zone
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
- Coordinates
- 40.862, -74.544 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The combination of a strong cold frontal passage during the morning of the 8th and a rapidly intensifying low pressure system off the Middle Atlantic and New England States brought snow and plunging temperatures during the day on the 8th. Actual accumulations averaged an inch or two in the southern part of New Jersey and 2 to 4 inches in the northern part of the state.
Every event with a place to put it; 21 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS PHI wrote it up.
The combination of a strong cold frontal passage during the morning of the 8th and a rapidly intensifying low pressure system off the Middle Atlantic and New England States brought snow and plunging temperatures during the day on the 8th. Actual accumulations averaged an inch or two in the southern part of New Jersey and 2 to 4 inches in the northern part of the state. The snow combined with the sharp drop in temperatures to bring treacherous driving conditions on untreated roadways during the afternoon and evening and countless accidents occurred, especially in the northern half of the state. Precipitation started as rain before sunrise on the 8th. The cold front moved through New Jersey between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. EST (from northwest to southeast) as a low pressure system on the front was intensifying. Temperatures dropped quickly behind this front both at the surface and aloft. The rain changed to snow between 8 a.m. (northwest areas first) and Noon EST (southeast areas last). About an hour after the precipitation changed to snow, temperatures dropped below freezing as the snow continued to fall. The snow ended during the mid and late afternoon from west to east across the state. But, its lingering effects lasted well into the morning rush on the 9th as the wind blew the snow back on the road. Townships averaged about a dozen weather related accidents, especially in the northern half of the state. In Hunterdon County, Interstate 78 was closed for five miles because of more than twenty accidents. About 75 accidents were reported across northern New Jersey on interstates 287, 78 and 80 and New Jersey State Route 24. In Somerset County, an accident on westbound Interstate 78 that involved a tractor-trailer and vehicle caused serious injuries. In Monmouth County, a roadway was closed in Holmdel Township after a vehicle knocked down a pole. Problems in Monmouth County persisted through the next morning as multiple accidents in the southbound lanes of New Jersey State Route 18 in Colts Neck closed the road for several hours. In Long Branch, nine accidents occurred within 45 minutes. Many after school activities and classes were cancelled on the 8th. The regional spelling bee in Monmouth County was postponed. Specific snow accumulations included 4.0 inches in Oakhurst (Monmouth County) and Brick Township (Ocean County), 3.5 inches in Manalapan (Monmouth County), 3.0 inches in Wantage (Sussex County), 2.8 inches in Marcella (Morris County) and Stewartsville (Warren County), 2.5 inches in Florence (Burlington County) and Skillman (Somerset County), 2.3 inches in Ewing (Mercer County), 2.0 inches in Metuchen (Middlesex County), 1.9 inches in Somerdale (Camden County), 1.5 inches in Tabernacle (Burlington County) and East Amwell Township (Hunterdon County), 1.4 inches in Chatham (Morris County), 1.0 inch in Seabrook (Cumberland County) and 0.3 inches at the Atlantic City International Airport. The snow was caused by the combination of the cold frontal passage and the rapidly intensifying low pressure system that developed on the front during the morning of the 8th. The low moved northeast and was an already intense 986 mb near Danville, Virginia at 7 a.m. EST on the 8th. From there it continued to move northeast and deepened to a 978 mb low just east of Long Beach Island, New Jersey at 1 p.m. EST on the 8th, to a 970 mb low over Nantucket Island, Massachusetts at 7 p.m. EST on the 8th to a 964 mb low just southwest of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia at 1 a.m. EST on the 9th.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 8, 2:45 AM EST, 6 hours 15 minutes earlier.
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</html>HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ 401 AM EST TUE MAR 8 2005 DEZ001>004-MDZ008-012-015-019-020-NJZ001-007>010-012>027-PAZ054-055- 060>062-067>071-090901- ATLANTIC NJ-ATLANTIC COASTAL CAPE MAY NJ-BERKS PA-BUCKS PA-CAMDEN NJ- CAPE MAY NJ-CARBON PA-CAROLINE MD-CECIL MD-CHESTER PA- COASTAL ATLANTIC NJ-COASTAL OCEAN NJ-CUMBERLAND NJ-DELAWARE PA- DELAWARE BEACHES DE-EASTERN MONMOUTH NJ-GLOUCESTER NJ-HUNTERDON NJ- INLAND SUSSEX DE-KENT MD-KENT DE-LEHIGH PA-MERCER NJ-MIDDLESEX NJ- MONROE PA-MONTGOMERY PA-MORRIS NJ-NEW CASTLE DE-NORTHAMPTON PA- NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON NJ-OCEAN NJ-PHILADELPHIA PA-QUEEN ANNES MD- SALEM NJ-SOMERSET NJ-SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON NJ-SUSSEX NJ-TALBOT MD- WARREN NJ-WESTERN MONMOUTH NJ- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ALLENTOWN...ATLANTIC CITY...BETHLEHEM... CAMDEN...DOVER...NEW BRUNSWICK...NEWARK...PERTH AMBOY... PHILADELPHIA...READING...TRENTON...VINELAND AND WILMINGTON 401 AM EST TUE MAR 8 2005 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA, DELAWARE, THE NORTHERN MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE AND NEW JERSEY, EXCLUDING THE FIVE NORTHEAST COUNTIES. .DAY ONE... A STRONG FRONT COLD WILL MOVE TO THE MID ATLANTIC COAST AND RAPIDLY INTENSIFY BY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING BEFORE MOVING WELL OUT TO SEA TONIGHT. A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE REGION WITH GUSTS THAT WILL REACH BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH LATER TODAY INTO THE EVENING HOURS. THE TEMPERATURES WILL DROP CONSIDERABLE COMPARED TO MONDAY AND RAIN WILL FALL AT FIRST BEFORE THE COLD AIR ADVECTS INTO THE REGION AND TURNS THE PRECIPITATION TURNS TO SNOW. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR CARBON AND MONROE COUNTIES OF PENNSYLVANIA AND SUSSEX COUNTY NEW JERSEY. ELSEWHERE SOME LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS WILL OCCUR. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN... NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTERS ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED FOR TODAYS WEATHER. EBERWINE
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ 515 AM EST TUE MAR 8 2005 NJZ007-008-PAZ060>062-082200- BERKS PA-LEHIGH PA-MORRIS NJ-NORTHAMPTON PA-WARREN NJ- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ALLENTOWN...BETHLEHEM AND READING 515 AM EST TUE MAR 8 2005 ...WINTER IS COMING BACK... A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION TODAY WITH RAIN PRECEDING IT AND TEMPERATURES ABOVE FREEZING. HOWEVER, LOW PRESSURE WILL FORM ON THE FRONT THIS MORNING THEN INTENSIFY AS IT MOVES TO THE DELAWARE AND NEW JERSEY COASTS BY THIS AFTERNOON. AS IT INTENSIFIES, IT WILL BRING MUCH COLDER AIR INTO THE REGION THAT WILL CHANGE THE RAIN OVER TO SNOW BY THIS AFTERNOON. THE CHANGEOVER WILL TAKE PLACE RATHER QUICKLY AND THE SNOW WILL ACCUMULATE AROUND 1 TO 3 INCHES ACROSS THE LEHIGH VALLEY AND ADJACENT AREAS OF NORTHERN NEW JERSEY. WHEN THE SNOW FIRST STARTS TO FALL THIS MORNING, IT WILL BE SLOW TO ACCUMULATE COURTESY OF THE WARM GROUND FROM MONDAY/S 60 DEGREE TEMPERATURES. FOR THE SAME REASON, SNOW WILL BE HARD PRESSED TO ACCUMULATE ON AREA ROADWAYS DURING THE MORNING HOURS. HOWEVER, WITH TEMPERATURES FALLING INTO THE UPPER 20S AND LOW 30S ON NORTHWEST WINDS, THE ENVIRONMENT WILL COOL DOWN QUICKLY. BY NOON, SNOW WILL BE ACCUMULATING. THE SNOW IS EXPECTED TO END LATE TODAY OR EARLY EVENING AS THE COLD FRONT AND THE ASSOCIATED LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVES AWAY FROM THE AREA. WINDS WILL GRADUALLY SUBSIDE TONIGHT, BUT COLDER THAN NORMAL TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO PERSIST THROUGH A GOOD PORTION OF THE WEEK. NJZ009-010-012-015-PAZ067>069-082200- BUCKS PA-CHESTER PA-HUNTERDON NJ-MERCER NJ-MIDDLESEX NJ- MONTGOMERY PA-SOMERSET NJ- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...NEW BRUNSWICK...PERTH AMBOY AND TRENTON 515 AM EST TUE MAR 8 2005 ...WINTER IS COMING BACK... A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION TODAY WITH RAIN PRECEDING IT AND TEMPERATURES ABOVE FREEZING. HOWEVER, LOW PRESSURE WILL FORM ON THE FRONT THIS MORNING THEN INTENSIFY AS IT MOVES TO THE DELAWARE AND NEW JERSEY COASTS BY THIS AFTERNOON. AS IT INTENSIFIES, IT WILL BRING MUCH COLDER AIR INTO THE REGION THAT WILL CHANGE THE RAIN OVER TO SNOW BY THIS AFTERNOON. THE CHANGEOVER WILL TAKE PLACE RATHER QUICKLY AND THE SNOW WILL ACCUMULATE AROUND 1 TO 3 INCHES ACROSS THE NORTHERN DELAWARE VALLEY AND ACROSS THE RIVER INTO CENTRAL NEW JERSEY. WHEN THE SNOW FIRST STARTS TO FALL THIS MORNING, IT WILL BE SLOW TO ACCUMULATE COURTESY OF THE WARM GROUND FROM MONDAY/S 60 DEGREE TEMPERATURES. FOR THE SAME REASON, SNOW WILL BE HARD PRESSED TO ACCUMULATE ON AREA ROADWAYS DURING THE MORNING HOURS. HOWEVER, WITH TEMPERATURES FALLING INTO THE UPPER 20S AND LOW 30S ON NORTHWEST WINDS, THE ENVIRONMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE WILL COOL DOWN QUICKLY. BY NOON, SNOW WILL BE ACCUMULATING. SNOW IS EXPECTED TO END LATE TODAY OR EARLY EVENING AS THE COLD FRONT AND THE ASSOCIATED LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVES AWAY FROM THE AREA. WINDS WILL GRADUALLY SUBSIDE TONIGHT, BUT COLDER THAN NORMAL TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO PERSIST THROUGH A GOOD PORTION OF THE WEEK. DEZ001>003-MDZ008-012-015-019-020-NJZ013-016>023-027-PAZ070-071- 082200- ATLANTIC NJ-CAMDEN NJ-CAPE MAY NJ-CAROLINE MD-CECIL MD-CUMBERLAND NJ- DELAWARE PA-GLOUCESTER NJ-INLAND SUSSEX DE-KENT MD-KENT DE- NEW CASTLE DE-NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON NJ-OCEAN NJ-PHILADELPHIA PA- QUEEN ANNES MD-SALEM NJ-SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON NJ-TALBOT MD- WESTERN MONMOUTH NJ- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CAMDEN...DOVER...NEWARK...PHILADELPHIA... VINELAND AND WILMINGTON 515 AM EST TUE MAR 8 2005 ...WINTER IS COMING BACK... A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION TODAY WITH RAIN PRECEDING IT AND TEMPERATURES ABOVE FREEZING. HOWEVER, LOW PRESSURE WILL FORM ON THE FRONT THIS MORNING THEN INTENSIFY AS IT MOVES TO THE DELAWARE AND NEW JERSEY COASTS BY THIS AFTERNOON. AS IT INTENSIFIES, IT WILL BRING MUCH COLDER AIR INTO THE REGION THAT WILL CHANGE THE RAIN OVER TO SNOW BY THIS AFTERNOON. LATE TUESDAY MORNING, IT WILL BE SLOW TO ACCUMULATE COURTESY OF THE WARM GROUND FROM MONDAY/S 60 DEGREE TEMPERATURES. FOR THE SAME REASON, SNOW WILL BE HARD PRESSED TO ACCUMULATE ON AREA ROADWAYS. HOWEVER, WITH TEMPERATURES FALLING INTO THE LOW 30S ON NORTHWEST WINDS, THE ENVIRONMENT WILL COOL DOWN QUICKLY. BY EARLY AFTERNOON, A SLUSHY SNOW ACCUMULATION CAN BE EXPECTED. WITH THE COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS AND COLD TEMPERATURES, WIND CHILL VALUES ARE EXPECTED TO DIP INTO THE TEENS THIS AFTERNOON, THEN INTO THE SINGLE DIGITS TONIGHT. SNOW IS FORECAST TO END LATE THIS AFTERNOON OR EARLY THIS EVENING AS THE COLD FRONT AND THE ASSOCIATED LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVES AWAY FROM THE AREA. WINDS WILL GRADUALLY SUBSIDE TONIGHT, BUT COLDER THAN NORMAL TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO PERSIST THROUGH A GOOD PORTION OF THE WEEK. DEZ004-NJZ014-024>026-082200- ATLANTIC COASTAL CAPE MAY NJ-COASTAL ATLANTIC NJ-COASTAL OCEAN NJ- DELAWARE BEACHES DE-EASTERN MONMOUTH NJ- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ATLANTIC CITY 515 AM EST TUE MAR 8 2005 ...WINTER IS COMING BACK... OUR BRIEF RESPITE FROM WINTER WEATHER WILL END ABRUPTLY AS A VIGOROUS COLD FRONT CROSSES THE REGION FROM WEST TO EAST TUESDAY MORNING. RAIN AND RAIN SHOWERS AHEAD OF THIS FRONT WILL OVERSPREAD THE AREA DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. A CHANGEOVER FROM RAIN TO SNOW WILL OCCUR QUICKLY AS COLD AIR RUSHES IN BEHIND THIS FRONT EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. A RUMBLE OF THUNDER IS ALSO POSSIBLE. BY THE TIME PRECIPITATION COMES TO AN END LATE THIS AFTERNOON, 1 OR 2 INCHES OF SNOW ARE POSSIBLE NEAR THE COAST. WHEN THE SNOW FIRST STARTS TO FALL EARLY THIS AFTERNOON, IT WILL BE SLOW TO ACCUMULATE COURTESY OF THE WARM GROUND FROM MONDAY/S 60 DEGREE TEMPERATURES. FOR THE SAME REASON, SNOW WILL BE HARD PRESSED TO ACCUMULATE ON AREA ROADWAYS. HOWEVER, WITH TEMPERATURES FALLING INTO THE LOW 30S ON NORTHWEST WINDS, THE ENVIRONMENT WILL COOL DOWN QUICKLY. BY MID AFTERNOON, A SLUSHY SNOW COVER IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP. WITH THE COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS AND COLD TEMPERATURES, WIND CHILL VALUES ARE EXPECTED TO DIP INTO THE TEENS THIS AFTERNOON, THEN INTO THE SINGLE DIGITS TONIGHT. SNOW IS EXPECTED TO END LATE TODAY OR EARLY THIS EVENING AS THE COLD FRONT AND THE ASSOCIATED LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVES AWAY FROM THE AREA. WINDS WILL GRADUALLY SUBSIDE TONIGHT, BUT COLDER THAN NORMAL TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO PERSIST THROUGH A GOOD PORTION OF THE WEEK. EBERWINE
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
21 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Jersey in 2005Every state in 2005This day in weather historyWarnings in New Jersey, March 2005
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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5439433, 5439438, 5439439, 5439423, 5439429, 5439430, 5439431, 5439432, 5439434, 5439436, 5439424, 5439425, 5439426, 5439427, 5439428, 5439435, 5439437, 5439440, 5439441, 5439442, 5439443.