N.J. weather: Rare wind-chill alert issued ahead of flash freeze. Latest storm forecast, wind and flood warnings.

The National Weather Service has issued a rare wind-chill advisory in most areas of New Jersey, because it could feel as cold as 10 to 15 degrees below zero when a blast of Arctic air sweeps into our region on Friday, Dec. 23, 2022.
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LATEST UPDATES: Flooding, flash freeze threat today. Wicked wind chills for Christmas weekend.

The National Weather Service is warning drivers about the potential for icy roads, power outages and “dangerously cold wind-chill” readings as a powerful winter storm will soon enter its next phase, causing winds to ramp up Thursday night and temperatures to take a massive plunge across New Jersey during the day on Friday.

The rapid temperature drop could cause some wet roads and sidewalks to quickly turn to ice during a “flash freeze,” forecasters warned.

Icing could start as early as the late morning to early afternoon on Friday, as air temperatures plunge from the low 50s all the way down into the 20s and 30s in just a few hours, then into the low teens a few hours later, forecasters said.

Strong winds from the storm system will push wind-chill readings — how cold it feels — as low as 10 to 15 degrees below zero. Those projections have prompted the weather service’s Mount Holly office to issue a rare wind-chill advisory for most of the Garden State, warning people that exposure to the frigid air could cause hypothermia or frost bite “in as little as 30 minutes.”

Wind-chill advisories are more common in colder, high-terrain areas, like the Poconos in eastern Pennsylvania, than they are in New Jersey.

The National Weather Service has issued a rare wind-chill advisory in most areas of New Jersey, because it could feel as cold as 10 to 15 degrees below zero when a blast of Arctic air sweeps into our region on Friday, Dec. 23, 2022.

The frigid air temperatures and bitter-cold wind chills are just some of the numerous impacts posed by the powerful December storm. It is also generating heavy rain across New Jersey, and winds will be ramping up Thursday night and during the day on Friday — with some gusts blowing as strong as 50 mph or even higher at times.

Gusts that high could easily cause tree damage and scattered power outages, the weather service noted.

As if that wasn’t enough, workers and holiday travelers will also have to contend with the possibility of a flash freeze on wet roads and walkways that aren’t treated before the temperatures take a big nose dive on Friday, forecasters warned. There’s also a possibility of a light coating of snow in western sections of the state at the tail end of the storm.

“It could be dangerous,” Patrick O’Hara, a meteorologist at the New Jersey weather service office, told NJ Advance Media. “If you don’t have to go out tomorrow (Friday), stay home. If you do go outside, it’s going to be icy — and very windy.”

As the storm intensifies, with heavier rain and stronger winds Thursday night, the list of formal weather warnings, watches and advisories across New Jersey continues to expand. These are among the most significant alerts:

Forecasters say very strong wind gusts could cause tree damage and power outages in New Jersey Thursday night, Dec. 22, and Friday, Dec. 23.

Wind alerts

  • A wind advisory will be active in Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Union counties from 10 p.m. Thursday through 10 p.m. Friday, with wind gusts up to 45 to 50 mph expected.
  • A wind advisory will be active in Atlantic, southwestern Burlington, Cape May, Monmouth and Ocean counties from 7 p.m. Thursday through 7 p.m. Friday.
  • A wind advisory will be active in Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, northwestern Burlington, Salem, Somerset, Sussex and Warren counties from 6 a.m. Friday to 7 p.m. Friday.
Widespread coastal flooding is expected in New Jersey and Delaware as a powerful December storm continues to sweep across the region.

Coastal flood warnings

  • Coastal flood warnings have been issued for Hudson County, eastern Essex County and eastern Union County, effective from 6 a.m. Friday to 11 a.m. Friday.
  • Coastal flood warnings have been issued for Atlantic County, southeastern Burlington County, Middlesex County, Monmouth County, Ocean County, effective from 4 a.m. Friday to noon on Friday.
  • A coastal flood warning has been issued for Salem County, effective from 7 a.m. Friday to 1 p.m. Friday.
  • Coastal flood warnings have been issued for Camden, Gloucester, Mercer and northwestern Burlington County, effective from 10 a.m. Friday to 5 p.m. Friday.
The powerful December storm system is having numerous impacts on New Jersey.

Wind-chill alerts

  • A wind-chill advisory will be active in Morris, Sussex and Warren counties from 3 p.m. Friday through 1 p.m. Saturday, with wind chills as low as 15 degrees below zero expected.
  • A wind-chill advisory will be active in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Salem and Somerset counties from 6 p.m. Friday through 10 a.m. Saturday, with wind chills dropping as low as 10 degrees below zero.
Forecasters say moderate to heavy rain could end as a brief period of snow in northwestern sections of New Jersey on Friday. After that, a major drop in temperatures could result in a flash freeze on some wet roads and walkways.
This graphic from the National Weather Service's New Jersey office lists the main impacts and anticipated timing of the powerful storm that is moving across the state Thursday night and Friday.

Current weather radar

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Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com.

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