Newark, New Jersey – A powerful Arctic air mass is settling in across New Jersey, setting the stage for an extended stretch of bitter cold that could last well into February. Temperatures are expected to drop sharply this weekend, with inland lows falling into the single digits and teens, and colder pockets slipping below zero overnight as the core of the Arctic air presses south.
According to the National Weather Service and NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, outlooks from late January through mid-February strongly favor much below normal temperatures across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. This same Arctic pattern is driving extreme cold deep into the Midwest and Northeast, with subzero air stretching unusually far south and reinforcing persistent cold across New Jersey.
Statewide, the prolonged freeze raises concerns about icy travel, frozen pipes, and increased strain on utilities. Snow, sleet, and freezing rain are possible at times this weekend, particularly overnight, creating slick conditions on the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, I-78, I-80, and secondary roadways. Even light icing could lead to hazardous commutes and scattered power disruptions.
The key question remains when relief arrives. Current signals suggest only brief moderation at times, with no sustained warm-up likely before mid-February. Officials urge residents to limit outdoor exposure, protect exposed plumbing, prepare vehicles for extreme cold, and monitor updates closely as additional winter weather advisories may be issued during this prolonged Arctic outbreak.
