Ice Storm Threat Looms...While Atlantic City could get mild

At this time, there is really nothing new with my forecast from yesterday for this upcoming storm. Later today, I will be putting out an ice accumulation map FOR PART TWO OF THE STORM. Some sections of New Jersey will be dealing with a crippling and damaging ice storm Tuesday Night into Wednesday Morning. This could be made worse with wet snow expected just hours before the changeover to freezing rain. There continues to appear to be a sharp temperature contrast between Sussex County and Cape May County.

I would say PSE&G and Jersey Central Power and Light have their work cut out for them if this forecast holds. We could be looking at widespread power outages in portions of the state. Atlantic City Electric may not have as much work as the more significant snow and icing in their service territory will be confined to Burlington and Ocean Counties. Needless to say, the winter storm watch counties should be preparing for power outages. Generators, flash lights, and non-perishable foods would be a good thing to have on hand. We could see some areas have prolonged power outages.

It is very possible the icing period goes on longer than anticipated in some of the areas under the winter storm watch. The trend this winter has been for a colder than expected solution to develop. I would also note to all my readers that the ice is not going to melt as soon as the temperature rises to 33 degrees. If there is more than a tenth of an inch of ice on the surfaces, it will take at a minimum two or three hours to fully melt the ice buildup.

Atlantic City has the potential to exceed 50 degrees on Wednesday, while Trenton will struggle to reach 35 degrees.

Wind and flooding potential with this system as well will be addressed this evening in my forecast.

A winter storm watch is in effect for Salem, Gloucester, Camden, Burlington, Ocean, Monmouth, Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset, Hunterdon, Morris, Warren, Sussex, Passaic, Bergen, Hudson, Union, and Essex Counties. This watch area also includes the major metropolitan areas of Philadelphia and New York City.