A winter storm that lasted about eighteen hours dropped about 5 to 8 inches of snow across most of New Jersey. Slightly lesser amounts fell across coastal Cape May County where precipitation mixed with sleet and some rain. Snow moved into the region during the evening of the 6th and fell at a fairly steady rate throughout the event. Snow ended during the first half of the afternoon on the 7th. Numerous accidents were reported, especially on the major interstates in the northern half of the state. Many main roads were snowpacked for the morning commute when most of these minor accidents occurred. In Monmouth county, 90 fender benders were reported between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. EST. Many schools were closed as were some businesses. All courthouses were closed in the southern half of the state as were courthouses in Mercer and Monmouth Counties. Federal courthouses were closed in Camden and Trenton. Some local government offices were also closed. Several businesses opened late. The racing card was cancelled at Freehold (Monmouth County) Raceway. New Jersey Transit buses ran about 30 minutes late throughout the day. Many after school activities were cancelled. Early during the storm, at 11 p.m. EST on the 6th, a 48-year-old man was killed when he lost control of his vehicle and spun into a pole in Bridgewater (Somerset County). The most serious accident occurred after the snow ended in Ocean County during the afternoon of the 7th. An Atlantic City bound casino bus was allegedly weaving erratically through traffic on the Garden state Parkway in Manahawkin. It careened off the left side of the highway, overturned and slid across the highway. Two people were killed and another twenty-eight were injured (mainly broken bones, head injuries and bruises). A section of the parkway about 100 yards north of the crash was slushy and slippery. The snow made it impossible for helicopters to help transport the injured. In Warren County, the westbound lanes of Interstate 80 were closed for two hours in Allamuchy Township after two tractor-trailers jackknifed at 830 a.m. EST on the 7th. In Hunterdon County, the westbound lanes of Interstate 78 were closed from 830 a.m. until Noon EST on the 7th after another tractor trailer jackknifed. Numerous lesser accidents were also reported on Interstates 287, 95 and 295. Specific accumulations included 8.5 inches in Mount Holly (Burlington County), Marcella (Morris County) and Sewell (Gloucester County), 8.3 inches in Glendola (Camden County), 8.2 inches in Cream Ridge (Monmouth County), 8.0 inches in Cherry Hill (Camden County), Vineland and Upper Deerfield (Cumberland County), Hamilton Square and Hightstown (Mercer County), Harvey Cedars (Ocean County), and Bordentown (Burlington County), 7.8 inches in Maple Shade (Burlington County) and Raritan (Somerset County), 7.5 inches in West Annandale (Hunterdon County) and Montville (Morris County), 7.4 inches in Somerdale (Camden County) and Estell Manor (Atlantic County), 7.3 inches in Old Bridge (Middlesex County), 7.0 inches in Forked River (Ocean County) and Stewartsville (Warren County), 6.8 inches in Hillsborough (Somerset County), 6.7 inches in Clinton (Hunterdon County), 6.5 inches in Hammonton (Atlantic County), 6.4 inches in Neptune (Monmouth County), 6.2 inches in Margate (Atlantic County), Hamburg (Sussex County) and New Brunswick (Middlesex County), 6.0 inches in Avalon (Cape May County), Atlantic City (Atlantic County), Hanover (Morris County), Wantage (Sussex County) and West Deptford (Gloucester County), 5.8 inches in Hope (Warren County), 4.0 inches in Wildwood (Cape May County) and 3.0 inches in Cape May City (Cape May County). The low pressure system responsible for the snow formed across the Gulf Coast States during the day on the 6th and moved quickly northeast to near Elizabeth City, North Carolina the morning of the 7th and well offshore by that evening. While the low pressure system itself was relatively weak and a fast mover, precipitation intensity was aided by a strong subtropical jet which brought moisture from the tropical Pacific Ocean into the region.

Heavy Snow in WARREN, NEW JERSEY
From 06-FEB-03 22:00:00 to 07-FEB-03 14:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in MERCER, NEW JERSEY
From 06-FEB-03 21:30:00 to 07-FEB-03 13:30:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in MIDDLESEX, NEW JERSEY
From 06-FEB-03 22:00:00 to 07-FEB-03 14:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in MORRIS, NEW JERSEY
From 06-FEB-03 22:00:00 to 07-FEB-03 14:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY
From 06-FEB-03 21:00:00 to 07-FEB-03 14:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in SALEM, NEW JERSEY
From 06-FEB-03 21:00:00 to 07-FEB-03 13:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY
From 06-FEB-03 22:00:00 to 07-FEB-03 14:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY
From 06-FEB-03 21:30:00 to 07-FEB-03 14:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in SUSSEX, NEW JERSEY
From 06-FEB-03 22:00:00 to 07-FEB-03 14:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in WESTERN ATLANTIC, NEW JERSEY
From 06-FEB-03 21:00:00 to 07-FEB-03 14:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in WESTERN CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY
From 06-FEB-03 21:00:00 to 07-FEB-03 13:30:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in GLOUCESTER, NEW JERSEY
From 06-FEB-03 21:00:00 to 07-FEB-03 13:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in HUNTERDON, NEW JERSEY
From 06-FEB-03 21:00:00 to 07-FEB-03 13:30:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY
From 06-FEB-03 21:00:00 to 07-FEB-03 13:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in CUMBERLAND, NEW JERSEY
From 06-FEB-03 21:00:00 to 07-FEB-03 13:30:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in EASTERN ATLANTIC, NEW JERSEY
From 06-FEB-03 21:30:00 to 07-FEB-03 14:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in EASTERN MONMOUTH, NEW JERSEY
From 06-FEB-03 22:00:00 to 07-FEB-03 14:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in EASTERN OCEAN, NEW JERSEY
From 06-FEB-03 21:30:00 to 07-FEB-03 14:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in WESTERN MONMOUTH, NEW JERSEY
From 06-FEB-03 22:00:00 to 07-FEB-03 13:30:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in WESTERN OCEAN, NEW JERSEY
From 06-FEB-03 21:30:00 to 07-FEB-03 14:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Weather in EASTERN CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY
From 06-FEB-03 21:30:00 to 07-FEB-03 14:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER