Weather
New Jersey's Biggest Snow Days Reveal Extreme Winter Risks
Trenton, NJ – New Jersey has experienced winter storms capable of dumping nearly 30 inches of snow in a single day, with historic accumulations affecting communities from Bergen County to the Jersey S
By Mason Reid · 2026-10-21T12:20:26.990Z
Trenton, NJ – New Jersey has experienced winter storms capable of dumping nearly 30 inches of snow in a single day, with historic accumulations affecting communities from Bergen County to the Jersey Shore. As winter 2026 27 approaches, those records demonstrate why even relatively mild winters can still produce dangerous snowfall.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Rutherford in Bergen County recorded 29.1 inches of snow Dec. 26, 1947, the highest one day measurement in the supplied New Jersey county records. Other significant events have produced widespread accumulations across northern, central and southern New Jersey.
New Jersey's 10 Biggest Distinct Single Day Snowfall Records The following list identifies the highest measurement for each distinct reporting date in NOAA's county level snowfall extremes table. Multiple locations reporting snowfall on the same date are grouped together.
1. Dec. 26, 1947: Rutherford, Bergen County — 29.1 inches. Long Branch Oakhurst in Monmouth County recorded 28.4 inches. 2. Dec. 27, 1947: Macopin, Passaic County — 29.0 inches. Westfield in Union County recorded 26 inches during the same broader storm. 3. Dec. 27, 2010: South Plainfield, Middlesex County — 28.0 inches. Lavallette recorded 24.5 inches, while Lower Township reported 22 inches. 4. Jan. 5, 1961: Sussex, Sussex County — 28.0 inches 5. Jan. 24, 2016: Kearny, Hudson County — 26.5 inches 6. Feb. 12, 1983: Oak Ridge Reservoir, Morris County — 26.0 inches 7. Feb. 2, 2021: Frelinghuysen Township, Warren County — 26.0 inches 8. Jan. 4, 1961: Flemington, Hunterdon County — 24.0 inches. Irvington recorded 22 inches. 9. Feb. 17, 1902: Clayton, Gloucester County — 24.0 inches. Pleasantville recorded 21 inches. 10. Jan. 8, 1996: Bound Brook, Somerset County — 24.0 inches. Pennsauken recorded 22 inches. Why New Jersey's Snowfall History Matters New Jersey's location along the Atlantic coast makes it particularly vulnerable to powerful nor'easters, which can produce heavy snowfall, strong winds and dangerous travel conditions.
The December 1947 blizzard remains a significant event in the state's winter weather history, with exceptional snowfall recorded across several counties.
The December 2010 storm demonstrated how coastal and central New Jersey communities can experience substantial accumulations, while the January 2016 blizzard brought major snowfall to northern portions of the state.
These events show that extreme snowfall is not limited to one region of New Jersey.
What Could This Mean for Winter 2026 27? El Niño can influence winter temperatures, precipitation and storm tracks across the Northeast. However, warmer seasonal conditions do not eliminate the possibility of powerful coastal snowstorms.
When cold air remains positioned over New Jersey and moisture rich Atlantic systems move inland, substantial snowfall can occur even during an otherwise mild winter.
Historical records cannot predict whether winter 2026 27 will bring another record breaking storm. They do demonstrate that a single powerful weather system can create dangerous conditions regardless of the season's overall temperature trend.
For New Jersey residents, the lesson is clear: One major storm can still deliver extraordinary snowfall, even when much of winter feels relatively mild.