Storm description, surface observations, snowfall totals, and images courtesy of the National Climatic Data Center, the National Centers of Environmental Prediction, the Climate Prediction Center, the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center, the Mount Holly National Weather Service Office, the Upton National Weather Service Office, Rutgers University, Plymouth State University, the University of Illinois, the American Meteorological Society, Weather Graphics Technologies, AccuWeather, and the Weather Channel.

Table of Contents Storm Summary Regional Surface Observations National Weather Service Forecasts Surface Maps Satellite Imagery Sea Level Pressure and 1000 to 500 Millibar Thickness Maps 850 Millibar Maps 700 Millibar Maps 500 Millibar Maps 300 Millibar Maps 200 Millibar Maps National Radar Imagery Local Radar Imagery Fort Dix Doppler Radar Imagery

Contoured Snowfall Totals from February 2-3, 1996

STORM DESCRIPTION A series of low pressure systems brought heavy snow and sleet to New Jersey. Synoptic Discussion A series of weak low pressure centers developed and moved northeastward along a stationary front straddled along the Southeast US coastline.  One developed late on the 1st and moved northeastward on the 2nd, while a second developed on the 2nd and moved out to sea on the 3rd. Local Discussion The first low pressure brought a swath of snow (3 to 6 inches) across southeastern New Jersey between 3AM and Noon EST on the 2nd.  Only flurries fell further north over the rest of the state.  The second low pressure brought a swath of snow and sleet to the state between 9PM EST on the 2nd and 7AM ESTon the 3rd.  Warm air at mid-levels arrived over southeastern New Jersey with this second wave, causing the snow to mix with sleet there.  Despite the sleet, accumulations were greatest over southeastern New Jersey, reaching 10 inches in Ocean, Atlantic, and Cape May counties and 9 inches in Cumberland County.  A more general 6 to 8 inches fell across Salem, Gloucester, Camden, Burlington, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Somerset, Union, Essex, Hudson, Bergen, and Passaic counties, while around 6 inches fell in Hunterdon, Morris, Warren, and Sussex counties.

New Jersey Snowfall Totals

Individual Snowfall Totals from February 2-3, 1996

Regional Snowfall Totals

Snow Totals from 1900Z 3 February 1996 (2PM EST 3 February 1996)

Table of Contents Storm Summary Regional Surface Observations National Weather Service Forecasts Surface Maps Satellite Imagery Sea Level Pressure and 1000 to 500 Millibar Thickness Maps 850 Millibar Maps 700 Millibar Maps 500 Millibar Maps 300 Millibar Maps 200 Millibar Maps National Radar Imagery Local Radar Imagery Fort Dix Doppler Radar Imagery

Snow storm, November 28-29, 1995 Snow storm, December 9, 1995 Snow and ice storm, December 14, 1995 Snow storm, December 16, 1995 Snow and ice storm, December 18-20, 1995 Ice storm, January 2-3, 1996 Blizzard, January 7-8, 1996 Snow and ice storm, January 12, 1996 Snow storm, February 2-3, 1996 Snow storm, February 16-17, 1996 Snow storm, March 2, 1996 Snow and ice storm, March 7-8, 1996 Snow storm, April 9-10, 1996 Back to Ray's Winter Storm Archive

Copyright © 2006 by Raymond C Martin Jr. All rights reserved