New Jersey, 2012

Winter Storm and Winter Weather in New Jersey, December 26 to 27, 2012

December 26 to 27, 2012 · NWS PHI · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

An intense low pressure system brought a winter storm to Sussex County and a wintry mix in the rest of Northwest New Jersey. A combination of snow, sleet and freezing rain occurred.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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
5

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.

An intense low pressure system brought a winter storm to Sussex County and a wintry mix in the rest of Northwest New Jersey. A combination of snow, sleet and freezing rain occurred. Snowfall averaged 1 to 4 inches, except around 6 inches in Sussex County. Ice accumulations averaged around one tenth of an inch. The same storm system brought high winds and flooding rains to the eastern part of New Jersey. The wintry mix caused accidents with the greatest impact in Morris and Sussex Counties. There were approximately forty reported accidents on state highways during the first two hours of precipitation.

Snow began throughout Northwest New Jersey on the afternoon of the 26th. The snow fell at its heaviest during the second half of the afternoon in Sussex County. As warmer air moved in aloft, the snow changed to sleet in the Raritan Basin during the second half of the afternoon on the 26th, but took most of the evening for this to occur in far Northwest New Jersey. In the Raritan Basin, the sleet changed to freezing rain and then rain during the late afternoon and early evening and rain fell heavy at times late that evening before ending overnight. In the rest of Northwest New Jersey, the sleet changed to freezing rain overnight and precipitation changed back to snow before ending on the morning of the 27th. Sussex County was affected the hardest by the winter storm. In Sparta alone there were twenty reported accidents. In Frankford Township, a mail truck drove through a guard rail on U.S. Route 206. The driver was uninjured. In Warren County, in Hardwick Township, all westbound lanes of Interstate 80 were closed after a tractor trailer overturned. In Morris County, minor accidents were reported in Chatham, Jefferson, Mendham, Mount Olive and Roxbury Townships. In Jefferson Township, an overturned public works truck closed closed East Shawnee Trail. | |Representative snowfall included 7.2 inches in Highland Lakes (Sussex County), 6.0 inches in Wantage (Sussex County), 5.9 inches in Hardyston Township (Sussex County), 5.5 inches in Montague (Sussex County), 5.2 inches in Vernon Township (Sussex County), 5.0 inches in Sparta (Sussex County), 4.0 inches in Milton (Morris County), 3.8 inches in Butler (Morris County), 2.8 inches in Blairstown (Warren County), 2.5 inches in Marcella (Morris County), 2.3 inches in Hackettstown (Warren County), 2.0 inches in Hope (Warren County) and Watchung (Somerset County), 1.6 inches in Califon (Hunterdon County) and 1.0 inch in Flemington (Hunterdon County).

The wintry weather was caused by a low pressure system that moved from Texas on Christmas Day northeast into the Tennessee Valley on the 26th. A secondary low pressure system formed in the Carolinas on the 26th and became the main low. This low moved northeast and passed through southern Delaware on the evening of the 26th and across southeast New Jersey overnight on the 26th. The low pressure system reached the eastern tip of Long Island, New York late in the morning on the 27th. That storm track made it difficult for warm air at the surface to reach northwest New Jersey.

What forecasters said that day

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 Dec 26, 11:11 AM EST, 1 hour 49 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 26, 11:11 AM EST, 1 hour 49 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
1111 AM EST WED DEC 26 2012

.SYNOPSIS...
A STRENGTHENING STORM WILL TRACK ACROSS THE NORTHERN MID ATLANTIC
TONIGHT THEN OFF THE NEW ENGLAND COAST THURSDAY. AS THIS STORM LIFTS
INTO THE CANADIAN MARITIMES FRIDAY, HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO OUR
AREA. THE NEXT LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IS FORECAST TO TRACK ACROSS THE
SOUTHERN STATES FRIDAY, THEN OFF THE MID ATLANTIC COAST SATURDAY.
HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN LATER SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, THEN A COLD FRONT
IS FORECAST TO MOVE THROUGH LATE MONDAY.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/...
MULTIPLE HEADLINE EVENT FOR TODAY AND TONIGHT. HYDROLOGY CONCERNS
ARE LOCATED IN THE HYDROLOGY SECTION BELOW...AND COASTAL FLOOD
ISSUES ARE CONTAINED IN THE COASTAL FLOOD SECTION AS WELL. FORECAST
PROBLEMS FOR TODAY INCLUDE PRECIPITATION TYPE AND AMOUNTS...POTENTIAL
FOR HEAVY RAIN...AND STRONG WINDS LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS
EVENING.

PRECIPITATION IS MOVING FROM THE SOUTHWEST TO THE NORTHEAST
DURING THIS MORNING. SNOW MIXED WITH RAIN AND A LITTLE SLEET ARE
BEING REPORTED BUT WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE LOW TO MID 30S /AND
WARMING/, LITTLE TO NO ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED THROUGH EARLY THIS
AFTERNOON. AREAS TO THE SOUTH AND EAST OF THE I-95 CORRIDOR
SHOULD START TO CHANGE OVER TO ALL RAIN AS WARM AIR ADVECTION
PUSHES ACROSS THE REGION.

AS STRONG WARM AIR ADVECTION CONTINUES OFF THE LOW LEVEL EAST TO
SOUTHEAST FLOW...THE BEST FRONTOGENETIC FORCING DEVELOPS FROM
CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA INTO SOUTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA AND CENTRAL NEW
JERSEY. THE INCREASED MOISTURE CONTENT OF THE AIR SHOULD ALLOW
SNOWFALL RATES TO INCREASE ACROSS THE NORTHERN LEHIGH VALLEY AND
SOUTHERN POCONOS DURING THE AFTERNOON...EVENTUALLY BLEEDING INTO
NORTHWEST NEW JERSEY.

FURTHER SOUTHEAST INTO THE LEHIGH VALLEY AND NORTH CENTRAL NEW
JERSEY...THE WARM AIR ADVECTION SHOULD ROB THE COLUMN OF ITS ABILITY
TO CREATE SNOWFLAKES. IN AREAS THAT RECEIVE SNOW ACCUMULATION BEFORE
THIS OCCURS...LOW LEVEL TEMPERATURES REMAINS NEAR FREEZING...AND
FREEZING RAIN BECOMES AN ISSUE. THE PREVIOUS SHIFT ISSUED A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY TO COVER THIS...AND NO CHANGE IS NEEDED HERE THIS
MORNING.

FINALLY...ACROSS SOUTHERN AREAS...THE POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY RAIN
INCREASES DURING THE MID TO LATE AFTERNOON. THE LOW TO MID LEVEL
THETA E RIDGE STARTS TO WRAP INTO THE DEVELOPING TROWAL AHEAD OF THE
NEGATIVELY TILTED CLOSING MID LEVEL SYSTEM. THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF
CONVECTION AHEAD OF THE MID LEVEL SYSTEM EARLY THIS MORNING ACROSS
THE EASTERN GULF...AND SOME OF THE MOISTURE AND ELEVATED INSTABILITY
COULD REACH SOUTHERN ZONES THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING.

THE PRESSURE GRADIENT AHEAD OF THE SURFACE LOW TIGHTENS CONSIDERABLY
THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING. IN ADDITION...NEAR/SHORT TERM
MODELS HAVE BEEN ADVERTISING A 60 TO 70 KNOT LOW LEVEL (CENTERED
NEAR 2000 FEET) JET RIDING THROUGH THE FLOW DURING THE SAME TIME.
WHILE THE INVERSION SET IN PLACE BY THE IMPINGING MARINE LAYER KEEP
MUCH OF THE MOMENTUM ABOVE THE SURFACE...SOME OF THE WIND COULD MIX
DOWN DURING THE HEAVY RAIN. IN ANY CASE...WIND GUSTS SHOULD BE
GETTING CLOSE TO WIND ADVISORY LEVELS BY LATE AFTERNOON ACROSS THE
EASTERN THIRD OF THE AREA.

FURTHER WEST...BASICALLY FROM INTERSTATE 95 WEST...THE LOW LEVEL COOL
AIR PROBABLY REMAINS IN PLACE...AND THIS SHOULD FURTHER INHIBIT
MIXING WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE LOW LEVEL JET. WITH THE ABOVE IN
MIND...A WIND ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE EASTERN HALF OF THE
AREA STARTING LATE THIS AFTERNOON.

FOR THE MOST PART...HIGHS WERE BASED ON THE MOS BLEND...AND DROPPED
A BIT TO ACCOUNT FOR THE DRY AIR IN PLACE...AND THE FACT THAT
TEMPERATURES DROP ON THE INITIATION OF PRECIPITATION.

&&

.SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH 6 AM THURSDAY/...
THE BEST MID LEVEL FRONTOGENETIC FORCING OCCURS DURING THE EVENING
HOURS...AS THE TROWAL SIGNATURE REACHES ITS PEAK. INFLOW AHEAD OF
THE NEGATIVELY TILTED MID LEVEL SYSTEM ALSO PEAKS...WITH
PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES TOPPING OFF NEAR 1.30 INCHES. THIS IS TWO
STANDARD DEVIATIONS ABOVE NORMAL FOR LATE DECEMBER...AND IS A
TESTAMENT TO THE MOISTURE AVAILABLE TO THE SYSTEM.

THIS IS IMPORTANT ACROSS THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF THE SOUTHERN POCONOS
AND NORTHWEST NEW JERSEY. IN THESE AREAS...THE HIGHEST PRECIPITATION
RATES WILL COINCIDE WITH NEAR ISOTHERMAL CONDITIONS IN THE COLUMN.
THE COMBINATION SUGGESTS THAT SNOWFALL RATES COULD APPROACH TWO
INCHES AN HOUR ACROSS THE HIGHER TERRAIN FOR A COUPLE OR THREE HOUR
PERIOD THIS EVENING. THIS IS SUPPORTED BY THE MAXIMIZATION OF THE
DENDRITIC GROWTH ZONE. THE PREVIOUS SHIFT ISSUED A WINTER STORM
WARNING FOR THIS AREA...AND THE PLACEMENT AND TIMING LOOK GOOD.

AFTER THE COLUMN FINALLY BECOMES OVERWHELMED WITH WARMER AIR AND
LOSES ITS ABILITY TO CREATE SNOWFLAKES...FREEZING RAIN BECOMES AN
ISSUE AS SURFACE TEMPERATURES STRUGGLE TO GET MUCH ABOVE THE
FREEZING MARK. AT THIS POINT...THE HEAVIEST PRECIPITATION SHOULD BE
NORTHEAST OF THE AREA...BUT AS MUCH AS ONE-QUARTER OF AN INCH OF ICE
IS POSSIBLE AFTER THE SNOW ENDS AND RAIN BEGINS.

FURTHER SOUTHEAST...THE POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY RAIN WILL BE ENHANCED BY
ELEVATED CONVECTION DURING THE EVENING. MORE ON THE POTENTIAL FOR
FLOODING IS CONTAINED IN THE HYDROLOGY SECTION BELOW. THE HEAVIEST
RAIN SHOULD END FROM SOUTH TO NORTH AS THE DRY SLOT RIDES NORTHWARD
BETWEEN 0300 UTC AND 0900 UTC THURSDAY.

SHORT TERM MODELS HAVE BEEN HINTING AT THE POTENTIAL FOR UPRIGHT
CONVECTION IN THE SMALL WARM SECTOR THAT CROSSES PORTIONS OF
NORTHEAST MARYLAND...SOUTHERN DELAWARE AND SOUTHERNMOST NEW JERSEY.
INSTABILITY WILL BE MARGINAL AT BEST...BUT LOW LEVEL TURNING AND
STRONG BULK SHEAR RAISES THE SPECTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS THIS
EVENING. RIGHT NOW...ENHANCED WORDING WILL NOT BE INCLUDED AS
INSTABILITY REMAINS THE LIMITING FACTOR...BUT LATER SHIFTS MAY HAVE
TO WATCH WHERE THE INSTABILITY MAXIMIZES.

FINALLY...THE LOW LEVEL JET CROSSES EASTERN SECTIONS DURING THE
EVENING HOURS. COUPLED WITH THE BEST PRESSURE GRADIENT...WIND
ADVISORY GUSTS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE EASTERN HALF OF THE AREA.
THERE IS A SMALL WINDOW FOR HIGH WINDS ACROSS OCEAN AND MONMOUTH
COUNTIES DURING THE LATE EVENING WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE LOW LEVEL
JET...BUT THERE IS NOT YET ENOUGH CONFIDENCE FOR A HIGH WIND WARNING.

TEMPERATURES PROBABLY REMAIN STEADY IN AREAS THAT RECEIVE SNOW TODAY
AND THIS EVENING. ELSEWHERE...TEMPERATURES SHOULD RISE AS THE
SURFACE LOW CROSSES THE REGION...AND FALL A BIT AS WINDS SHIFT TO
THE WEST AND SOUTHWEST BEHIND IT. FOR NOW...LOWS WERE BASED
PRIMARILY ON THE MOS BLEND.

&&

.LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
THIS TIME FRAME CONTINUES TO BE ACTIVE WITH ONE SYSTEM EXITING TO
START AND THEN WE TURN OUR ATTENTION TO ANOTHER POTENTIAL STORM FOR
THE WEEKEND. THE OVERALL SYNOPTIC SETUP IS ENERGETIC AS AN
UPPER-LEVEL TROUGH TENDING TO TAKE ON A NEGATIVE TILT WILL BE
EXITING OUR AREA TO START THURSDAY. THE PATTERN THEN RELOADS FOR
OVER THE WEEKEND, HOWEVER THIS TROUGH LOOKS TO AMPLIFY FARTHER SOUTH
ALLOWING A COLDER THERMAL PROFILE OVERALL. THIS LOOKS LIKE A
POTENTIALLY INTERESTING SYSTEM AS THE MODELS SUGGEST THAT ENERGY
FROM BOTH THE NORTH AND SOUTHERN STREAMS MAY GET INVOLVED. AS THE
FIRST STORM TRIES TO HELP WITH BLOCKING, THE WEEKEND STORM MAY THEN
TEND TO TRACK FARTHER SOUTH. THE PATTERN PERHAPS THEN RELAXES FOR A
BIT THEREAFTER AS A COLD FRONT SWEEPS THROUGH LATE MONDAY KEEPING A
COLDER REGIME IN PLAY. WE GENERALLY TOOK A MODEL BLEND THURSDAY
THROUGH SATURDAY ALONG WITH INCORPORATING CONTINUITY, THEN BLENDED
IN SOME NEWER HPC GUIDANCE INTO SOME FIELDS FROM SATURDAY NIGHT AND
BEYOND.

FOR THURSDAY, A NEGATIVELY TILTED TROUGH IS FORECAST TO BE SHIFTING
EAST OF OUR AREA DURING THE MORNING. THIS WILL TAKE THE SURFACE LOW
NEAR OUR COAST EARLY TO OFF THE COAST OF NEW ENGLAND BY LATE IN THE
DAY. THE LARGE SCALE LIFT INCLUDING THE FRONTOGENETIC FORCING IS
FORECAST TO BE LIFTING NORTH OF OUR AREA AT 12Z. THERE SHOULD BE
SOME SORT OF A DRY SLOT WRAPPING INTO THE SOUTHERN AREAS WITH
PERHAPS SOME WRAPAROUND PRECIPITATION HANGING ON FOR A TIME IN THE
MORNING IN PORTIONS OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND NORTHWESTERN NEW
JERSEY. WE THEREFORE HELD ONTO SOME HIGH POPS ACROSS THESE AREAS
EARLY THEN TAPERED THEM DOWN FAIRLY QUICKLY. FORECAST SOUNDINGS
INDICATE MOSTLY RAIN FOR MOST, ALTHOUGH A MIX OR FREEZING
PRECIPITATION SHOULD BE ONGOING TO START THE DAY ACROSS THE FAR
NORTHWEST ZONES. THIS SHOULD TRANSITION OVER TO FLURRIES OR A FEW
SNOW SHOWERS AS THE WARM LAYER ALOFT IS GRADUALLY ERODED DUE TO SOME
CAA BEHIND THE STORM. THE WINTER STORM WARNING THEREFORE FOR CARBON,
MONROE AND SUSSEX /NJ/ COUNTIES WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT THROUGH THE
MORNING.

THE CAA BEHIND THIS SYSTEM DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE ALL THAT ROBUST,
BUT NOTED ENOUGH TO COMBINE WITH A TIGHTENED PRESSURE GRADIENT. AS
THE UPPER-LEVEL TROUGH LIFTS INTO NEW ENGLAND, 925 MB WINDS ARE
FORECAST TO INCREASE TO AROUND 40 KNOTS ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE
CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN AREAS. FORECAST SOUNDINGS REVEAL THAT THE
BOUNDARY LAYER BECOMES MIXED ENOUGH TO ALLOW FOR BETTER MOMENTUM
TRANSFER TO TAKE PLACE. THIS SHOULD RESULT IN A BREEZY TO WINDY DAY,
ALTHOUGH GIVEN THE PLACEMENT OF THE LOW-LEVEL JET BEHIND THE
DEPARTING STORM THE SOUTHERN ZONES MAY HAVE THE STRONGEST WINDS. THE
GUSTS MAY NEAR ADVISORY LEVELS FOR A TIME, HOWEVER OVERALL WE MAY
END UP FALLING SHORT. THEREFORE, WE WILL GO WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30
KNOTS AT THIS POINT. IT LOOKS LIKE IT TAKES MOST OF THURSDAY NIGHT
FOR THE PRESSURE GRADIENT TO GRADUALLY RELAX, THEREFORE A BREEZE
SHOULD REMAIN DURING THE NIGHT FOR MOST LOCALES.

FOR FRIDAY, A BRIEF RESPITE AS THE MID LEVEL FLOW GENERALLY BACKS TO
THE WEST AND SOUTHWEST AND ALLOWS A WEAK RIDGE TO SLIDE ACROSS OUR
AREA. THIS WILL TAKE HIGH PRESSURE FROM THE OHIO VALLEY TO OVER OUR
AREA BY DAYS END. A BAROCLINIC ZONE ALOFT LOOKS TO BECOME
ESTABLISHED OVER OUR AREA AS THE FLOW TURNS WESTERLY AT 850 MB WITH
SOME GRADUAL WAA DEVELOPING UP THE OHIO VALLEY. GIVEN THE BACKED
FLOW, WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE AT LEAST SOME HIGH CLOUDS WORKING INTO
THE REGION.

FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, THE NEXT SYSTEM IS FORECAST TO ARRIVE FROM
THE SOUTHWEST. THIS STORM IS ENERGY FROM THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN
STREAMS, AND THE MODEL GUIDANCE HAS BEEN SHOWING VARIABILITY
REGARDING THE TIMING OF AMPLIFICATION AND ALSO WHAT SHORT WAVE IS
MORE DOMINANT. THE 00Z GFS IS MORE CONSOLIDATED WITH THE SURFACE
LOW, WHICH IS WHAT THE ECMWF HAD ALTHOUGH THE LATEST ECMWF DELAYS
THE SURFACE LOW INTENSIFICATION SO THERE IS LESS PRECIPITATION FOR
OUR AREA. THERE IS STILL ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT AS EVEN THE NORTHERN
STREAM CAN GIVE THE AREA MEASURABLE PRECIPITATION AS LONG AS IT DOES
NOT DAMPEN OUT. GIVEN THE MODEL GUIDANCE VARIABILITY THERE IS LOWER
CONFIDENCE REGARDING THE ACTUAL DETAILS. HOWEVER SINCE OUR
CONFIDENCE THAT MANY PLACES SEE SOME MEASURABLE PRECIPITATION HAS
INCREASED SOME, WE OPTED TO RAISE THE POPS INTO THE LOW LIKELY
RANGE. FOR THE NORTHWEST ZONES HOWEVER, WE WILL MAINTAIN CHC POPS
GIVEN MORE UNCERTAINTY IF THE PRECIPITATION SHIELD WILL REACH THIS
FAR NORTH. GIVEN THE GENERAL CONSENSUS REGARDING AMPLIFICATION, THE
SURFACE LOW SHOULD TRACK FARTHER SOUTH AND EAST COMPARED TO ITS
PREDECESSOR. THE FORECAST SOUNDINGS OVERALL SUGGEST MORE SNOW WITH
THIS FARTHER SOUTH AND EAST, ALTHOUGH PERHAPS ENOUGH WARMTH FOR A
TIME IN THE BOUNDARY LAYER RESULTS IN A MIX/RAIN SOUTH AND EAST
BEFORE COLUMN COOLING TAKES OVER. WE DID NOT GET TO DETAILED WITH
THE PRECIPITATION TYPES, THEREFORE USED A GENERAL THICKNESS TOOL TO
DERIVE AT THE TYPES.

THE SYSTEM LOOKS PROGRESSIVE ENOUGH WHERE ANY PRECIPITATION TENDS TO
TAPER OFF FROM WEST TO EAST SATURDAY EVENING. THE STORM THEN TRACKS
FARTHER OFFSHORE WITH A TIGHTENING PRESSURE GRADIENT IN ITS WAKE FOR
SUNDAY. THE EXTENT OF THIS AND THE ACTUAL WIND SPEEDS WILL DEPEND ON
HOW QUICKLY THE STORM STRENGTHENS AS IT DEPARTS THE MID ATLANTIC.
THERE COULD ALSO BE SOME LAKE EFFECT SNOW SHOWERS TRYING TO MAKE A
RUN AT OUR NORTHWEST ZONES ON SUNDAY, OTHERWISE SOME CLOUDS.

FOR MONDAY AND TUESDAY, HIGH PRESSURE LOOKS TO BUILD IN MONDAY
ALTHOUGH A NORTHWEST FLOW MAY RESULT IN SOME SNOW SHOWERS OR
FLURRIES FOR AWHILE MAINLY ACROSS THE FAR NORTHWEST ZONES. A QUICK
MOVING COLD FRONT MAY SLIDE THROUGH OUR AREA LATE MONDAY, AND THEN
THIS BOUNDARY MAY STALL TO OUR SOUTH AS SOME ADDITIONAL ENERGY
DEVELOPS ALONG IT. OVERALL, NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WERE MADE TO
THIS TIME FRAME.

&&

.AVIATION /16Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION IS FOR KPHL, KPNE, KTTN, KABE, KRDG, KILG,
KMIV, KACY AND SURROUNDING AREAS.

CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE TO DETERIORATE ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH
THE AFTERNOON. CEILINGS HAVE LOWERED TO MVFR FROM THE KPHL METRO
AIRPORTS AND POINTS SOUTH AND EAST, WITH TERMINALS TO THE NORTH
AND WEST EXPECTED TO LOWER TO MVFR THROUGH ABOUT 18Z OR 19Z. WE
HAVE BACKED OFF THE ONSET OF PRECIPITATION A BIT, AS CURRENT RADAR
IMAGERY SHOWS THE PRECIP SHIELD HAVING A TOUGH TIME ADVANCING
NORTHEASTWARD INTO THE FAIRLY DRY AIR MASS IN PLACE. BUT, AS THE
LOW LEVELS MOISTEN, PRECIP SHOULD COMMENCE AROUND THE PHL METRO
AREA BETWEEN ABOUT 17Z TO 18Z.

AS THE PRECIPITATION STARTS...IT COULD FALL IN THE FORM OF SNOW
ACROSS THE KPHL METRO AIRPORTS NORTH AND WEST...AND MAINLY AS RAIN
SOUTHEAST. CONDITIONS DROP TO IFR BETWEEN 20Z TO 21Z AS THE
PRECIPITATION BECOMES STEADIER. DURING THIS TIME...EAST WINDS
SHOULD START TO GUST TO 25 TO 30 KNOTS...ESPECIALLY IN PLACES LIKE
KACY AND KMIV.

A LOW LEVEL EASTERLY JET APPROACHES THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS
EVENING...RESULTING IN 2000 FOOT WINDS NEAR 65 KNOTS FROM THE EAST.
LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR IS EXPECTED AT JUST ABOUT ALL TERMINAL
LOCATIONS LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY THIS EVENING.

FOR TONIGHT...LIFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED AS CEILINGS DROP BELOW
500 FEET WITH MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN. THE PRESSURE GRADIENT SHOULD
YIELD EASTERLY WIND GUSTS BETWEEN 30 AND 40 KNOTS...WITH THE HIGHEST
GUSTS EAST OF KPHL. IN ADDITION...LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR IS EXPECTED
THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS.

AS LOW PRESSURE CROSSES THE AREA LATE TONIGHT...WINDS WILL VEER TO
THE SOUTHEAST AND EVENTUALLY SOUTHWEST OF KPHL (MOST LIKELY AFTER
0600 UTC THURSDAY). THE LOW LEVEL JET SHOULD MOVE NORTHEAST OF THE
AREA...AND THE GUSTINESS SHOULD BEGIN TO DROP OFF. BETWEEN 0300
UTC AND 0900 UTC THURSDAY...VISIBILITIES MAY START TO
IMPROVE...BUT CEILINGS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN LIFR INTO THURSDAY
MORNING.

OUTLOOK...
THURSDAY...SUB-VFR TO START AS PRECIPITATION ENDS, THEN IMPROVING
TO VFR. NORTHWEST WINDS 15-25 KNOTS WITH GUSTS 30-35 KNOTS.

FRIDAY...VFR. NORTHWEST WINDS 10-20 KNOTS, DIMINISHING IN THE
EVENING.

SATURDAY...VFR TO START, THEN TRENDING TOWARD SUB-VFR AS CLOUDS
INCREASE AND LOWER. SOME PRECIPITATION ARRIVES FROM WEST TO EAST,
ALTHOUGH THERE IS SOME QUESTION ON THE TRACK AND STRENGTHENING OF
THIS SYSTEM. THIS SYSTEM SHOULD PRODUCE A PERIOD OF SNOW AT MOST OF
THE TERMINALS.

SUNDAY...OVERALL VFR. THERE COULD BE SOME FLURRIES OR SNOW SHOWERS
FROM NEAR KABE TO KRDG NORTH AND WEST. NORTHWEST WINDS 15-20 KNOTS
WITH GUSTS TO NEAR 30 KNOTS.

&&

.MARINE...
WE WILL BE UPGRADING THE STORM WATCH TO A STORM WARNING FOR THE
NORTHERNMOST OCEAN WATERS...MAINLY FOR THIS EVENING.

HIGH PRESSURE OVER NEW YORK STATE AND NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND WILL
SLIDE EAST DURING THE MORNING HOURS. WINDS WILL VEER FROM NORTHEAST
TO EAST DURING THAT TIME...AND WINDS COULD REACH SMALL CRAFT LEVELS
DURING THE MORNING HOURS.

THE GRADIENT TIGHTENS QUICKLY DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS AS THE
SURFACE LOW APPROACHES FROM THE SOUTHWEST. THE GRADIENT FLOW SHOULD
EASILY SUPPORT GALE FORCE WIND GUSTS BY MID TO LATE AFTERNOON...
ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE LOWER DELAWARE BAY AND SOUTHERN OCEAN WATERS.
AT THIS TIME...SHORT TERM MODELS ARE SHOWING A 70 KNOT LOW LEVEL JET
(CENTERED AROUND 2000 FEET) CROSSING THE WATERS LATE THIS AFTERNOON
AND THIS EVENING. MODEL SOUNDINGS SUGGEST THAT MOST OF THE MOMENTUM
REMAINS ABOVE THE INVERSION (WHICH IS NOT UNUSUAL IN THIS
SITUATION).

THIS SHOULD MEAN STRONG GALE FORCE GUSTS LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND
THIS EVENING FOR THE COASTAL WATERS. WITH THIS IN MIND...WE WILL
STICK WITH THE GALE WARNING IN PLACE. AS THE LOW LEVEL JET CROSSES
THE NORTHERN OCEAN WATERS...MODEL SOUNDINGS AT 44065 SHOW MORE THAN
50 KNOTS OF WIND GETTING THROUGH THE INVERSION AND JUST ABOUT TO THE
SURFACE. THIS DOES NOT APPEAR UNREASONABLE...AS THE BEST GRADIENT
COINCIDES WITH THE PASSING LOW LEVEL JET. THE ABOVE REASONING IS
THE BASIS FOR UPGRADING THE NORTHERNMOST OCEAN WATERS TO A STORM
WARNING.

SHORT TERM MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH THE TRACK OF THE
SURFACE LOW...WITH THE 0000 UTC GFS PROBABLY BETTER WITH THE
SLIGHTLY FASTER TIMING. BASED ON THE TRACK OF THE LOW AND THE
PASSAGE OF THE LOW LEVEL JET...THE STRONGEST WINDS SHOULD EXIT THE
NORTHERN OCEAN WATERS SHORTLY AFTER 0600 UTC THURSDAY. BEHIND THE
LOW...WINDS WILL SHIFT...AND EVENTUALLY BECOME WEST TO SOUTHWEST.
THIS WILL OCCUR ACROSS THE SOUTHERN WATERS FIRST...REACHING THE
NORTHERN OCEAN WATERS BY DAYBREAK OR SO.

MODEL SOUNDINGS SHOW THE POTENTIAL FOR GALE FORCE WIND GUSTS ACROSS
THE SOUTHERN WATERS LATE TONIGHT...WITH 35 TO 40 KNOTS OF WIND
SITTING AT THE TOP OF THE INVERSION. GALE FORCE GUSTS FROM THE
SOUTHWEST MAY NOT GET INTO THE NORTHERN OCEAN WATERS UNTIL AFTER
DAYBREAK THURSDAY.

FOR THE MOST PART...THE WAVEWATCH MODEL OUTPUT WAS ACCEPTED FOR
TODAY. HOWEVER...GIVEN THE RAPID INCREASE IN THE FETCH FROM THE EAST
LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND THE FIRST PART OF TONIGHT...IT LOOKS LIKE
THE WAVEWATCH MODEL IS SLOW ON THE UPTAKE...AND SEAS WERE INCREASED
FOR TONIGHT ACROSS ALL OCEAN WATERS.

OUTLOOK...
LOW PRESSURE IS FORECAST TO BE EXITING TO OUR EAST THURSDAY MORNING,
THEREFORE A LULL IN THE WINDS SHOULD OCCUR BRIEFLY ESPECIALLY ACROSS
OUR NORTHERN WATERS. HOWEVER, A TIGHTENING PRESSURE GRADIENT IN
CONJUNCTION WITH SOME CAA WILL ALLOW FOR THE BOUNDARY LAYER TO COOL
AND RESULT IN STEEPER LOW-LEVEL LAPSE RATES. THE FORECAST SOUNDINGS
SHOW IMPROVED MIXING OCCURRING FROM SOUTH TO NORTH, WITH GENERALLY
STRONG FLOW /NEAR 40 KNOTS AT 925 MB/ ACROSS THE SOUTHERN HALF OF
THE AREA. WHILE THERE IS A FAIRLY STRONG INVERSION FORECAST DURING
THURSDAY, WINDS UNDERNEATH THIS ARE GENERALLY IN THE 40 TO 45 KNOT
RANGE. AS A RESULT, GALES ARE A DEFINITE POSSIBILITY ONCE AGAIN
THURSDAY BUT WILL HOLD OFF FOR NOW GIVEN THE INCOMING FIRST STORM.

HIGH PRESSURE THEN BUILDS ACROSS THE AREA FRIDAY WITH A DIMINISHING
WIND. THE GUSTS MAY BE CLOSE TO ADVISORY LEVELS, BUT OVERALL IT
SHOULD REMAIN BELOW 25 KNOTS. THE NEXT SYSTEM IS FORECAST TO ARRIVE
OVER THE WEEKEND, GENERALLY SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT. THERE IS
MODEL VARIABILITY REGARDING HOW THE ASSOCIATED UPPER-LEVEL TROUGH
AMPLIFIES WHICH IMPACTS THE STRENGTH AND TRACK OF THE SURFACE LOW.
THE SYSTEM SHOULD TRACK FARTHER SOUTH AND EAST OF ITS PREDECESSOR
WITH A NORTHEAST WIND FOR A TIME SATURDAY. THE STRENGTH OF THE
SYSTEM THOUGH WILL DETERMINE THE WIND FIELD AT THE SURFACE. AS OF
NOW, WE INDICATED SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY WINDS ARRIVING SATURDAY
EVENING WITH POSSIBLE LOW END GALES OVERNIGHT AND ON SUNDAY.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
WHILE THERE IS SOME MODEL SPREAD ON JUST HOW MUCH QPF WILL BE
DELIVERED WITH THIS SYSTEM (AND WHERE IT MAY FALL)...THERE IS ENOUGH
POTENTIAL TO LEAVE THE FLOOD WATCH IN PLACE WITH THIS PACKAGE.

THE SYSTEM OVER NORTHWEST ALABAMA EARLY THIS MORNING HAS TAPPED GULF
OF MEXICO AIR...AND PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES HERE ARE CLOSE TO 1.40
INCHES. AT THE INFLOW INCREASES AHEAD OF THE NEGATIVELY TILTED MID
LEVEL SYSTEM LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...MUCH OF THE MOISTURE
FEED FROM THE GULF WILL REMAIN INTACT. THE LOW TO MID LEVEL THETA E
RIDGE POKES UP JUST AHEAD OF THE SURFACE SYSTEM IN THE EVENING...AND
THERE COULD BE SOME ELEVATED CONVECTIVE ELEMENTS TO HELP ENHANCE
RAINFALL RATES.

THE 0000 UTC NAM SHOWS MUCH BETTER HEAVY RAIN POTENTIAL...AND AT
THIS POINT AS MUCH AS 2 INCHES OF RAIN COULD FALL ACROSS THE
INTERSTATE 95 LINE...AND PERHAPS A BIT NORTHWEST OF THAT AS WELL.
THIS MUCH RAIN WOULD PAINT THE AREA OF GREATEST CONCERN OVER MOST OF
SOUTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA...ADJACENT AREAS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHWESTERN
NEW JERSEY...AS WELL AS NORTHERN DELAWARE. ALL SMALL STREAMS IN
THIS AREA ARE SUBJECT TO FLOODING GIVEN RECENT RAINFALL HISTORY, AND
SOME OF THE TRIBUTARY STREAMS SUCH AS THE NESHAMINY...PERKIOMEN...
AND ASSUNPINK CREEKS COULD SEE FLOODING AS WELL.

THE HEAVIEST RAIN SHOULD FALL THIS EVENING INTO THE EARLY
OVERNIGHT...WITH RAINFALL RATES DROPPING OFF AFTER THE MID LEVEL DRY
SLOT CROSSES THE AREA.

&&

.TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
WE WILL STAND OUR GROUND WITH RESPECT TO THE COASTAL FLOOD WATCH
EARLY THIS MORNING. THERE IS NOT YET ENOUGH GUIDANCE TO SUGGEST THAT
MODERATE TIDAL FLOODING WILL OCCUR IN THE WATCH AREA...BUT WE DO NOT
WANT TO BRING THE WATCH DOWN NOW AND SUGGEST THAT THE THREAT HAS
PASSED.

THE CONSENSUS OF AVAILABLE TIDAL GUIDANCE SUGGESTS THAT MOST PLACES
DO NOT EVEN REACH THE MINOR TIDAL FLOODING BENCHMARK WITH THE EARLY
EVENING TIDE. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL JUST ABOUT BE GETTING INTO
THE AREA...WE WOULD NEED TWO AND ONE-HALF FOOT DEPARTURES TO REACH
THE MODERATE TIDAL FLOODING BENCHMARK. THERE IS NOT ENOUGH
CONFIDENCE IN THIS OCCURRING YET IN THE WATCH AREA.

THERE MAY BE BETTER POTENTIAL FOR THE UPPER DELAWARE BAY...WHERE
GUIDANCE SUGGESTS THAT REEDY POINT COULD GET CLOSE DURING THE LATE
EVENING HIGH TIDE CYCLE. SINCE IT LOOKS TO BE A BORDERLINE SITUATION
WE WILL HOLD OFF ON THE HEADLINE FOR NOW. THIS COULD CHANGE LATER
THIS MORNING IF GUIDANCE COMES INTO BETTER AGREEMENT.

FINALLY...CBOFS IS SUGGESTING THAT BOTH CAMBRIDGE AND TOLCHESTER
BEACH COULD GET CLOSE TO THE MINOR TIDAL FLOODING BENCHMARK ABOUT 24
HOURS FROM NOW. SINCE CBOFS GUIDANCE TENDS TO BE HIGH FOR THESE
LOCATION....WE WILL HOLD OFF ON HEADLINES FOR NOW AS WELL.

&&

.PHI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PA...FLOOD WATCH FROM 7 PM EST THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY
     MORNING FOR PAZ070-071-101>106.
     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 7 AM EST THURSDAY FOR PAZ060>062.
     WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL NOON EST THURSDAY FOR PAZ054-055.
NJ...FLOOD WATCH FROM 7 PM EST THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY
     MORNING FOR NJZ008>010-012-015-017>019.
     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 7 AM EST THURSDAY FOR NJZ007-008.
     WIND ADVISORY FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 1 AM EST THURSDAY
     FOR NJZ012>014-020>027.
     COASTAL FLOOD WATCH FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING
     FOR NJZ012>014-020-026.
     WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL NOON EST THURSDAY FOR NJZ001.
DE...FLOOD WATCH FROM 7 PM EST THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY
     MORNING FOR DEZ001.
     WIND ADVISORY FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 1 AM EST THURSDAY
     FOR DEZ002>004.
MD...NONE.
MARINE...GALE WARNING UNTIL 6 AM EST THURSDAY FOR ANZ430-431-452>455.
     STORM WARNING FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 AM EST THURSDAY FOR
     ANZ450-451.

&&

SYNOPSIS...GORSE
NEAR TERM...HAYES/MEOLA
SHORT TERM...HAYES
LONG TERM...GORSE
AVIATION...GORSE/HAYES/KLINE
MARINE...GORSE/HAYES
HYDROLOGY...HAYES
TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...HAYES
Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 26, 4:21 AM EST, 8 hours 39 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
421 AM EST WED DEC 26 2012

NJZ001-PAZ054-055-270930-
SUSSEX-CARBON-MONROE-
421 AM EST WED DEC 26 2012

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO NOON EST
THURSDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHERN NEW JERSEY AND
NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER STORM WARNING.

NORTHEAST WINDS COULD GUST TO AROUND 40 MPH AT TIMES THIS EVENING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER STORM WARNING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

NJZ008-270930-
MORRIS-
421 AM EST WED DEC 26 2012

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 AM EST
THURSDAY...
...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY
MORNING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHERN NEW JERSEY.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY.
   FLOOD WATCH.

NORTHEAST WINDS COULD GUST TO AROUND 40 MPH AT TIMES THIS EVENING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY.
   FLOOD WATCH.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

NJZ007-PAZ060>062-270930-
WARREN-BERKS-LEHIGH-NORTHAMPTON-
421 AM EST WED DEC 26 2012

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 AM EST
THURSDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHERN NEW JERSEY AND EAST
CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY.

NORTHEAST WINDS COULD GUST TO AROUND 40 MPH AT TIMES THIS EVENING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

NJZ009-010-PAZ101-103-105-270930-
HUNTERDON-SOMERSET-WESTERN CHESTER-WESTERN MONTGOMERY-UPPER BUCKS-
421 AM EST WED DEC 26 2012

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY
MORNING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHERN NEW
JERSEY...NORTHWEST NEW JERSEY AND SOUTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   FLOOD WATCH.

A PERIOD OF SNOW AND SLEET IS ANTICIPATED TODAY, WITH SOME LIGHT
ACCUMULATION POSSIBLE.

IN ADDITION, NORTHEAST WINDS COULD GUST TO AROUND 40 MPH AT TIMES
LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   FLOOD WATCH.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

NJZ015-PAZ102-104-106-270930-
MERCER-EASTERN CHESTER-EASTERN MONTGOMERY-LOWER BUCKS-
421 AM EST WED DEC 26 2012

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY
MORNING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL NEW JERSEY AND
SOUTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   FLOOD WATCH.

NORTHEAST WINDS COULD GUSTS TO AROUND 40 MPH AT TIMES LATER TODAY
AND TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   FLOOD WATCH.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

NJZ012-270930-
MIDDLESEX-
421 AM EST WED DEC 26 2012

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 1 AM EST
THURSDAY...
...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY
MORNING...
...COASTAL FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY
MORNING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHERN NEW JERSEY.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WIND ADVISORY.
   FLOOD WATCH.
   COASTAL FLOOD WATCH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   FLOOD WATCH.
   COASTAL FLOOD WATCH.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

DEZ001-NJZ017>019-PAZ070-071-270930-
NEW CASTLE-GLOUCESTER-CAMDEN-NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON-DELAWARE-
PHILADELPHIA-
421 AM EST WED DEC 26 2012

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY
MORNING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHERN DELAWARE...SOUTHERN
NEW JERSEY AND SOUTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   FLOOD WATCH.

MINOR TIDAL FLOODING MAY OCCUR WITH THE HIGH TIDE CYCLE OVERNIGHT
TONIGHT.

NORTHEAST WINDS COULD GUST TO AROUND 40 MPH AT TIMES LATER TODAY
AND TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   FLOOD WATCH.

MINOR TIDAL FLOODING IS POSSIBLE WITH THE HIGH TIDE CYCLE AROUND
NOON ON THURSDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

NJZ016-270930-
SALEM-
421 AM EST WED DEC 26 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

A PERIOD OF HEAVY RAIN IS POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT,
THEREFORE LOCAL POOR DRAINAGE FLOODING COULD RESULT.

MINOR TIDAL FLOODING MAY OCCUR WITH THE HIGH TIDE CYCLE OVERNIGHT TONIGHT.

NORTHEAST WINDS COULD GUST TO AROUND 40 MPH AT TIMES LATER TODAY
AND TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

MINOR TIDAL FLOODING MAY OCCUR WITH THE HIGH TIDE CYCLE AROUND
NOON ON THURSDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

NJZ013-014-020-026-270930-
WESTERN MONMOUTH-EASTERN MONMOUTH-OCEAN-COASTAL OCEAN-
421 AM EST WED DEC 26 2012

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 1 AM EST
THURSDAY...
...COASTAL FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY
MORNING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL NEW JERSEY AND
SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WIND ADVISORY.
   COASTAL FLOOD WATCH.

HEAVY RAIN MAY OCCUR THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT, THEREFORE LOCAL
POOR DRAINAGE FLOODING COULD RESULT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   COASTAL FLOOD WATCH.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

DEZ002>004-NJZ021>025-027-270930-
KENT-INLAND SUSSEX-DELAWARE BEACHES-CUMBERLAND-ATLANTIC-CAPE MAY-
ATLANTIC COASTAL CAPE MAY-COASTAL ATLANTIC-SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON-
421 AM EST WED DEC 26 2012

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 1 AM EST
THURSDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL DELAWARE...SOUTHERN
DELAWARE AND SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WIND ADVISORY.

HEAVY RAIN MAY OCCUR THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT, THEREFORE LOCAL
POOR DRAINAGE FLOODING COULD RESULT.

MINOR TIDAL FLOODING MAY OCCUR WITH THIS EVENINGS HIGH TIDE CYCLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

MINOR TIDAL FLOODING MAY OCCUR DURING THE HIGH TIDE CYCLE THURSDAY
MORNING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

MDZ008-012-015-019-020-270930-
CECIL-KENT MD-QUEEN ANNES-TALBOT-CAROLINE-
421 AM EST WED DEC 26 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST MARYLAND.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

NORTHEAST WINDS COULD GUST TO AROUND 40 MPH AT TIMES LATER TODAY
AND TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

ANZ430-431-452>455-270930-
DELAWARE BAY WATERS NORTH OF EAST POINT NJ TO SLAUGHTER BEACH DE-
DELAWARE BAY WATERS SOUTH OF EAST POINT NJ TO SLAUGHTER BEACH DE-
COASTAL WATERS FROM LITTLE EGG INLET TO GREAT EGG INLET NJ OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM GREAT EGG INLET TO CAPE MAY NJ OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE MAY NJ TO CAPE HENLOPEN DE OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE HENLOPEN TO FENWICK ISLAND DE OUT 20 NM-
421 AM EST WED DEC 26 2012

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 6 AM EST THURSDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS AND
DELAWARE BAY WATERS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   GALE WARNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

WEST-NORTHWEST WINDS MAY GUST TO GALE FORCE THURSDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

ANZ450-451-270930-
COASTAL WATERS FROM SANDY HOOK TO MANASQUAN INLET NJ OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM MANASQUAN INLET TO LITTLE EGG INLET NJ OUT 20 NM-
421 AM EST WED DEC 26 2012

...STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 AM EST
THURSDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   STORM WARNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

WEST-NORTHWEST WINDS MAY GUST TO GALE FORCE THURSDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Dec 26, 9:00 AM EST, 4 hours before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
900 AM EST WED DEC 26 2012

DEZ001>003-MDZ008-012-015-019-020-NJZ016-021-023-261600-
NEW CASTLE-KENT-INLAND SUSSEX-CECIL-KENT MD-QUEEN ANNES-TALBOT-
CAROLINE-SALEM-CUMBERLAND-CAPE MAY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WILMINGTON...DOVER...GEORGETOWN...
ELKTON...CHESTERTOWN...CENTREVILLE...EASTON...DENTON...
PENNSVILLE...MILLVILLE...CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE
900 AM EST WED DEC 26 2012

...SNOW AND RAIN WILL MOVE NORTHEASTWARD THROUGH THE REGION THIS
MORNING...

A WINTRY MIX OF SNOW AND RAIN, POSSIBLY MIXING WITH SOME SLEET, WILL
SPREAD NORTHEASTWARD ACROSS THE REGION THIS MORNING. WHERE MAINLY
SNOW FALLS, EXPECT AROUND A HALF AN INCH OF SNOW ACCUMULATION.
TEMPERATURES ARE GENERALLY IN THE LOW TO MID 30S ACROSS THE
REGION AND WILL GRADUALLY WARM OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS.

PERIODS OF HEAVIER PRECIPITATION WILL CAUSE VISIBILITIES TO DROP
AND ROADWAYS TO BECOME SLIPPERY. EXERCISE CAUTION IF VENTURING OUT
TODAY AND ALLOW FOR EXTRA TRAVEL TIME.

MEOLA
Special weather statement, Dec 26, 9:39 AM EST, 3 hours 21 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
939 AM EST WED DEC 26 2012

NJZ017-018-022-PAZ060-070-071-101>104-261645-
GLOUCESTER-CAMDEN-ATLANTIC-BERKS-DELAWARE-PHILADELPHIA-
WESTERN CHESTER-EASTERN CHESTER-WESTERN MONTGOMERY-
EASTERN MONTGOMERY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...GLASSBORO...CAMDEN...CHERRY HILL...
HAMMONTON...READING...MEDIA...PHILADELPHIA...HONEY BROOK...
OXFORD...WEST CHESTER...KENNET SQUARE...COLLEGEVILLE...
POTTSTOWN...NORRISTOWN...LANSDALE
939 AM EST WED DEC 26 2012

...SNOW AND RAIN WILL MOVE NORTHEASTWARD THROUGH THE REGION THIS
MORNING...

A WINTRY MIX OF SNOW AND RAIN, POSSIBLY MIXING WITH SOME SLEET, WILL
SPREAD NORTHEASTWARD ACROSS THE REGION THIS MORNING. WHERE MAINLY
SNOW FALLS, EXPECT AROUND A HALF AN INCH OF SNOW ACCUMULATION.
TEMPERATURES ARE GENERALLY IN THE LOW TO MID 30S ACROSS THE
REGION AND WILL GRADUALLY WARM OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS.

PERIODS OF HEAVIER PRECIPITATION WILL CAUSE VISIBILITIES TO DROP
AND ROADWAYS TO BECOME SLIPPERY. EXERCISE CAUTION IF VENTURING OUT
TODAY AND ALLOW FOR EXTRA TRAVEL TIME.

MEOLA
Special weather statement, Dec 26, 12:01 PM EST, 59 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
1201 PM EST WED DEC 26 2012

DEZ001-MDZ008-NJZ016>018-PAZ060-070-071-101>104-261915-
NEW CASTLE-CECIL-SALEM-GLOUCESTER-CAMDEN-BERKS-DELAWARE-
PHILADELPHIA-WESTERN CHESTER-EASTERN CHESTER-WESTERN MONTGOMERY-
EASTERN MONTGOMERY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WILMINGTON...ELKTON...PENNSVILLE...
GLASSBORO...CAMDEN...CHERRY HILL...READING...MEDIA...
PHILADELPHIA...HONEY BROOK...OXFORD...WEST CHESTER...
KENNET SQUARE...COLLEGEVILLE...POTTSTOWN...NORRISTOWN...LANSDALE
1201 PM EST WED DEC 26 2012

...SNOW, RAIN AND SLEET MOVING NORTHWARD THROUGH THE REGION THIS
AFTERNOON...

A WINTRY MIX OF SNOW, RAIN AND SLEET, WILL SPREAD NORTHWARD ACROSS
THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON. TEMPERATURES ARE GENERALLY IN THE LOW
30S AND WILL GRADUALLY WARM OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS. SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS OF AROUND A HALF OF AN INCH OR LESS CAN BE EXPECTED
THROUGH EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.

PERIODS OF HEAVIER PRECIPITATION WILL CAUSE VISIBILITIES TO DROP
AND ROADWAYS TO BECOME SLIPPERY. EXERCISE CAUTION IF VENTURING OUT
TODAY AND ALLOW FOR EXTRA TRAVEL TIME.

MEOLA

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 winter weather, 1 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Somerset

When
December 26, 1:00 PM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where
Somerset forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
40.564, -74.616 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Hunterdon

When
December 26, 1:00 PM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Hunterdon forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
40.567, -74.912 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Morris

When
December 26, 2:00 PM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where
Morris forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
40.862, -74.544 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Warren

When
December 26, 2:00 PM EST to December 27, 12:00 AM EST
Where
Warren forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
40.857, -74.997 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Sussex

When
December 26, 2:00 PM EST to December 27, 12:00 PM EST
Where
Sussex forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
41.140, -74.690 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Winter Weather
Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.
Winter Storm
A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in New Jersey in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in New Jersey, December 2012

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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 425298, 425299, 425300, 425301, 425302.