Weather: Blizzard watch issued for most of New Jersey

Most of the early snow is expected to be on the light side with as much as 1-3 inches possible by daybreak. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for the Lehigh Valley. In Baltimore and Washington, DC, the NWS has warned that two feet of snowfall could accumulate between Friday, when the storm starts, and the end of Saturday. Even as far as North Carolina or Kentucky, there could be heavy amounts of ice piling up.

Snow totals Interstate 95 corridor are expected to be 12 to 16 inches and 8 to 12 inches in central New Jersey and the northern suburbs of Philadelphia, according to the advisory. The storm is expected to continue throughout Saturday and Saturday night, with rain possibly switching back to snow before tapering off Sunday morning.

Maximum wind gusts Saturday are expected to hit the mid-30s in Morris County, according to the Weather Service. That will reduce visibilities down to a quarter mile or less at times. “With this storm, we have not only a very strong nor’easter, but also a full moon, which means high tide will already be higher than usual”.

Regardless of the form in which precipitation falls, flooding and strong winds are the greatest concern at the moment, Thomas said.

Coastal Flooding: Potential for Moderate Tidal Flooding around times of High Tide Saturday morning and Saturday night.

A storm is considered a blizzard when, for three hours or more, “considerable” snowfall reduces visibility to less than a quarter-mile and winds are sustained at 35 m.p.h. or more. Numerous roads may become impassable from the drifting snow. Heavy snow piled up on power lines and trees which are also being blown in the wind could cause issues of their own.