NEW JERSEY — A cross-country winter storm is on track to hit New Jersey and is likely to end its nearly two-year-long snow drought, say forecasters.

AccuWeather meteorologists are saying the storm “will deliver the first big snowfall along the Interstate 95 corridor in nearly two years.”

As it gets closer snowfall total predictions for New Jersey have been released ahead of the weekend.

“A coastal system will bring widespread precipitation to our region. Snow and some mixed precip will occur northwest of I-95. The immediate urban corridor is unlikely to experience anything more than a wet coating of snow,” said the National Weather Service(NWS) Mount Holly.

Some areas in the north in the Sussex County area are predicted to get hit the hardest with 6 to 8 inches of snow. Around the I-80 area, 3 to 4 inches are expected to fall.

The majority of the Central Jersey area such as Somerset and Hunterdon Counties could get 1 to 2 inches. Anything below I-95 will see rain.

The storm will drop drenching rain along areas of the Gulf Coast from late Thursday night to Friday before moving NorthEast to the mid-Atlantic coast where it will strengthen before arriving in New Jersey on Saturday afternoon. The storm will remain in the area through Sunday.

AccuWeather meteorologists are now saying this storm will likely end New Jersey’s almost two-year-long snow drought.

“A few inches of snow or more can occur along the I-95 corridor from Washington, D.C., to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City and Boston, which would be the most snow some of these cities have seen since early 2022 thanks to the multiyear drought of major snowstorms in these areas,” said AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter.

As of New Year’s Day, it has been 683 days since the New York City area received at least 1 inch of snowfall — which was on Feb. 16, 2022.

Regardless, any wintry mix or snow expected to fall in the area will likely have an impact on travel as it has been years since travelers had to traverse through it.

“Any accumulating snow can result in significant travel slowdowns, but this storm may have greater impact than others of similar magnitude because it has been such a long time since more than 1 inch of snow has accumulated in these areas – it can take people a bit of time to once again get used to driving in and otherwise dealing with the snow,” said Porter.

Forecasters are also following another major winter storm that could shift from the Central States and hit New Jersey later in the week on Tuesday, Jan. 9, and Wednesday, Jan. 10.

While the second storm is too early to track, let’s take a look at the weather ahead:

North Jersey

Thursday: Partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 39. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 22. North wind 5 to 15 mph.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 35. Northwest wind around 10 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. West wind around 5 mph.

Saturday: A chance of snow after 1 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 35. Light and variable wind becoming east 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Saturday Night: Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. Low around 30. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent.

Sunday: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26.

Central Jersey

Thursday: Mostly cloudy through mid-morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 43. Light northwest wind increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the morning.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 22. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 38. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.

Saturday: A chance of snow between 1 and 4 p.m., then snow likely, possibly mixed with rain. Cloudy, with a high near 39. Light and variable wind becoming east 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Saturday Night: Rain and snow. Low around 32. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Sunday: A chance of rain and snow before 4 p.m., then a chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 27.

South Jersey

Thursday: Isolated showers before 9 a.m. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 43. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 24. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 38. West wind around 10 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. West wind around 5 mph.

Saturday: Rain, mainly after 1 p.m. High near 45. Light and variable wind becoming east 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Saturday Night: Rain, mainly before 1 a.m. Low around 37. Windy. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between three-quarters and one inch possible.

Sunday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 27.

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