New Jersey, 2012

Winter Weather in New Jersey, January 21, 2012

January 21, 2012 · NWS PHI · 21 events in 21 counties and zones

A low pressure system that just grazed extreme southeast New Jersey during the morning of the 21st brought a wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain to the state. Snowfall averaged 1 to 3 inches in the southern half of the state and 3 to 6 inches in the northern half of the state.

Where it happened

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.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
21

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 low pressure system that just grazed extreme southeast New Jersey during the morning of the 21st brought a wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain to the state. Snowfall averaged 1 to 3 inches in the southern half of the state and 3 to 6 inches in the northern half of the state. Ice accretions averaged around one tenth of an inch, mainly in the middle and southwestern part of the state. The overall number of accidents were less because this occurred on a Saturday. There were speed reductions on most of the major highways in New Jersey and also along the New Jersey Turnpike.

Snow overspread New Jersey between Midnight EST and 3 a.m. EST on the 21st from southwest to northeast. In southeastern New Jersey, the snow changed to sleet and freezing rain (inland) between 5 and 6 a.m. EST and then changed to plain rain between 6 a.m. EST and 8 a.m. EST. Some spottier freezing rain persisted well inland. Precipitation ended during the middle of the afternoon on the 21st. In southwest New Jersey, the snow changed to sleet and freezing rain between 6 a.m. EST and 9 a.m. EST. Precipitation was spottier after 9 a.m. EST, but remained a wintry mix until it ended by the middle of the afternoon on the 21st. In northern New Jersey, some sleet mixed in before the snow ended during the early afternoon on the 21st.

Representative snowfall included 6.0 inches in Butler (Morris County), 5.5 inches in Marcella (Morris County) and Wantage (Sussex County), 4.7 inches in Hackettstown (Warren County), 4.5 inches in Lafayette (Sussex County), 4.0 inches in Flemington (Hunterdon County), 3.8 inches in Cheesquake (Middlesex County), 3.5 inches in Belle Mead (Somerset County), 3.0 inches in Swedesboro (Gloucester County), Mendham (Morris County), Phillipsburg (Warren County) and Monroe Township (Middlesex County), 2.9 inches in Freehold (Monmouth County), 2.7 inches in Ewing (Mercer County) and Pottersville (Somerset County), 2.5 inches in Hightstown (Mercer County), Bordentown and Moorestown (Burlington County), 2.3 inches in National Park (Gloucester County), 2.0 inches in Lambertville (Hunterdon County) and Pittsgrove (Salem County), 1.7 inches in Lakewood (Ocean County), 1.6 inches at the Atlantic City International Airport, 1.5 inches in Tabernacle (Burlington County) and Ocean Township (Monmouth County), 1.3 inches in Pennsauken (Camden County), 1.0 inch in Egg Harbor Township (Atlantic County) and Middle Township (Cape May County) and 0.5 inches in Bayville (Ocean County).| |The low pressure system responsible for the wintry mix formed on a cold front over the Southern Plains on the 20th. At 7 p.m. EST on the 20th, it reached Arkansas. It moved northeast and reached Kentucky at 1 a.m. EST on the 21st, the lower Chesapeake Bay at 7 a.m. EST on the 21st, just east of Cape May, New Jersey at 10 a.m. EST on the 21st and about 100 miles east of the New Jersey coast at 1 p.m. EST on the 21st. The track of the low pressure system made it difficult for warm air to move in at the surface in most of the state (except southeast), even if it warmed enough aloft to change the snow to either sleet or freezing rain.

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 Jan 21, 12:50 AM EST, 10 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 21, 12:50 AM EST, 10 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 20, 5:36 PM EST, 7 hours 24 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
536 PM EST FRI JAN 20 2012

DEZ001-MDZ008-NJZ001-007>010-012>020-027-PAZ054-055-060>062-067>071-
212245-
NEW CASTLE-CECIL-SUSSEX-WARREN-MORRIS-HUNTERDON-SOMERSET-MIDDLESEX-
WESTERN MONMOUTH-EASTERN MONMOUTH-MERCER-SALEM-GLOUCESTER-CAMDEN-
NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON-OCEAN-SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON-CARBON-MONROE-
BERKS-LEHIGH-NORTHAMPTON-CHESTER-MONTGOMERY-BUCKS-DELAWARE-
PHILADELPHIA-
536 PM EST FRI JAN 20 2012

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 5 PM EST
SATURDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHERN DELAWARE...NORTHEAST
MARYLAND...CENTRAL NEW JERSEY...NORTHERN NEW JERSEY...NORTHWEST NEW
JERSEY...SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY...EAST CENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA...NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA AND SOUTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA.

.DAY ONE...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.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

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.

DEZ002>004-MDZ012-015-019-020-NJZ021>026-212245-
KENT-INLAND SUSSEX-DELAWARE BEACHES-KENT MD-QUEEN ANNES-TALBOT-
CAROLINE-CUMBERLAND-ATLANTIC-CAPE MAY-ATLANTIC COASTAL CAPE MAY-
COASTAL ATLANTIC-COASTAL OCEAN-
536 PM EST FRI JAN 20 2012

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

WARMER AIR OVERRUNNING COLDER SURFACE TEMPERATURES COULD RESULT
IN LIGHT SNOW MIXED WITH SLEET LATER TONIGHT, THEN TRANSITION TO
A RAIN/SLEET MIX FOR A BRIEF TIME. THIS MAY RESULT IN SOME LOCAL
SLIPPERY SPOTS FOR A TIME LATER TONIGHT. ANY MIXED PRECIPITATION
SHOULD QUICKLY TRANSITION TO ALL RAIN BY DAYBREAK SATURDAY FROM
SOUTH TO NORTH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

ANZ430-431-450>455-212245-
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 SANDY HOOK TO MANASQUAN INLET NJ OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM MANASQUAN INLET TO LITTLE EGG INLET NJ OUT 20 NM-
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-
536 PM EST FRI JAN 20 2012

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jan 21, 12:37 AM EST, 23 minutes before
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The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

21 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Sussex

When
January 21, 1:00 AM EST to 1:00 PM EST
Where
Sussex forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
41.140, -74.690 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Warren

When
January 21, 1:00 AM EST to 1:00 PM EST
Where
Warren forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
40.857, -74.997 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Morris

When
January 21, 1:00 AM EST to 1:00 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, Gloucester

When
January 21, 1:00 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Gloucester forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
39.717, -75.142 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Salem

When
January 21, 1:00 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Salem forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
39.577, -75.358 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Cumberland

When
January 21, 1:00 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Cumberland forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
39.328, -75.129 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Western Cape May

When
January 21, 1:00 AM EST to 6:00 AM EST
Where
Western Cape May forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
39.085, -74.850 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Eastern Cape May

When
January 21, 1:00 AM EST to 6:00 AM EST
Where
Eastern Cape May forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
39.085, -74.850 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Eastern Atlantic

When
January 21, 1:00 AM EST to 6:00 AM EST
Where
Eastern Atlantic forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
39.469, -74.634 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Western Atlantic

When
January 21, 1:00 AM EST to 7:00 AM EST
Where
Western Atlantic forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
39.469, -74.634 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Hunterdon

When
January 21, 2:00 AM EST to 12:00 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, Mercer

When
January 21, 2:00 AM EST to 1:00 PM EST
Where
Mercer forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
40.283, -74.702 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Southeastern Burlington

When
January 21, 2:00 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Southeastern Burlington forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
39.878, -74.668 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Western Ocean

When
January 21, 2:00 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Western Ocean forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
39.866, -74.250 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Eastern Ocean

When
January 21, 2:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where
Eastern Ocean forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
39.866, -74.250 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Camden

When
January 21, 2:00 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Camden forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
39.804, -74.960 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Northwestern Burlington

When
January 21, 2:00 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Northwestern Burlington forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
39.878, -74.668 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Somerset

When
January 21, 2:30 AM EST to 12:00 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, Middlesex

When
January 21, 2:30 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where
Middlesex forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
40.440, -74.409 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Western Monmouth

When
January 21, 2:30 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where
Western Monmouth forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
40.288, -74.158 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Eastern Monmouth

When
January 21, 2:30 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where
Eastern Monmouth forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
40.288, -74.158 (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.

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, January 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 360234, 360235, 360236, 360247, 360248, 360249, 360250, 360251, 360252, 360253, 360237, 360242, 360243, 360244, 360245, 360246, 360255, 360238, 360239, 360240, 360241.