New Jersey Weather: Early snow totals reach 6 inches as winter storm continues with ‘thunderstorms’ reported

Snow from Sunday’s winter storm is beginning to accumulate in parts of New Jersey, with up to 5 to 6 inches measured on the ground in parts of Morris, Passaic and Sussex counties as of 8 p.m.

The numbers are likely to rise as the storm is not expected to subside until later tonight and heavy bands of snow fell at a rate of nearly 2 inches per hour in some areas, creating dangerous road conditions, according to the National Weather Service.

So far, the heaviest snowfall has been reported in areas north and west of Interstate 95.

Additionally, some of tonight’s heavy snow bands were accompanied by lightning that triggered thunder — a phenomenon known as a “thunderstorm” when it occurs during a snowstorm — near the county of Essex, the Weather Service’s New York regional office reported on the social media platform X.

Lightning was also reported near lower Manhattan around 6:45 p.m. as the snow became more intense, the weather service said.

Forecasters estimate the last flakes should fall between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. Sunday, first in the southwest region of New Jersey, then progress toward the northeast region.

Heavy snowfall has already been reported in the northern region of the state.

Preliminary snow totals in New Jersey

Here’s a look at snow accumulations reported by the National Weather Service and the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network, known as CoCoRaHS. (Note: Additional counties and cities will be added to the list below as new reports arrive Sunday evening.)

Atlantic County

• Atlantic City Int. Airport: 0.3 inches, 7 p.m.
• Lake Pine: 2.0 inches, 6:55 p.m.
• Mount Holly WFO: 1.8 inches, 19 hours

Bergen County

• Ramsey: 4.5 inches, 18 hours
• Franklin Lakes: 4.2 inches, 5:40 p.m.
• Fair Lawn: 1.6 inches, 5:28 p.m.

Essex County

• Newark Liberty Airport: 1.6 inches, 7 p.m.
• Nutley: 0.8 inches, 5:55 p.m.

Gloucester County

• Mantua: 3.0 inches, 8:35 p.m.
• Pitman: 2.5 inches, 8:18 p.m.

Hunterdon County

• Stanton: 4.0 inches, 6:15 p.m.
• Whitehouse Station: 4.0 inches, 8:26 p.m.
• Pittstown: 3.0 inches, 4:36 p.m.
• Three Bridges: 2.2 inches, 4:50 p.m.
• Califon: 2.0 inches, 3:59 p.m.

Mercer County

• Trenton Mercer Airport: 2.2 inches, 7 p.m.
• Hamilton Square: 1.2 inches, 6:54 p.m.

Middlesex County

• Piscataway: 3.0 inches, 8:13 p.m.
• Edison: 2.0 inches, 7:45 p.m.
• South River: 0.5 inches, 6:29 p.m.

Monmouth County

• Lincroft: 2.0 inches, 8:15 p.m.
• Freehold: 1.5 inches, 6:40 p.m.
• Middletown: 1.0 inches, 7:05 p.m.

Morris County

• Mount Olive: 6.5 inches, 18h
• Kinnelon: 6.0 inches, 6:55 p.m.
• Randolph: 6.0 inches, 5:50 p.m.
• Morristown: 5.0 inches, 8:18 p.m.
• Budd Lake: 4.5 inches, 5:30 p.m.
• Lake Hopatcong: 4.0 inches, 5:08 p.m.
• Pompton Plains: 4.0 inches, 6:15 p.m.
• Brookside: 3.8 inches, 8 p.m.

Ocean County

• Brick: 1.3 inches, 20h
• Barnegat Township: 0.6 inch, 8 p.m.

Passaic County

• Pompton Lakes: 5.5 inches, 8 p.m.
• Ringwood: 4.7 inches, 18:33

Sussex County

• Sparta: 5.2 inches, 6:20 p.m.
• Wantage Township: 5.0 inches, 6 p.m.
• Hardyston Township: 4.5 inches, 5:30 p.m.
• Sussex: 3.4 inches, 5:30 p.m.
• Byram Twp: 2.0 inches, 2:51 p.m.

Union County

• Newark Liberty Airport: 1.6 inches, 7 p.m. (Essex and Union)

Warren County

• Stewartsville: 4.0 inches, 6 p.m.
• Blairstown Township: 3.9 inches, 6:10 p.m.

Current weather radar

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Len Melisurgo can be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com or the @LensReality.