An offshore low pressure system's western edge of its precipitation shield passed over New Jersey and dropped heavy snow from Cape May County north through Ocean County. Accumulations averaged 4 to 6 inches. Farther to the north or west, there was a sharp drop in snowfall intensity and accumulations were generally 2 inches or less. Snow began falling during the late afternoon. Temperatures remained above or near freezing through the evening commute and the snow did not start accumulating on roadways until after the commute was over. The first reports of accumulating snow were received after 8 p.m. EST. The snow fell heavy at times during the second half of the evening and ended during the early morning of the 18th. No major accidents were reported on either the Garden State Parkway or Atlantic City Expressway. Schools were closed on the 18th in and around Atlantic City. Specific accumulations included 6.5 inches in Harvey Cedars (Ocean County), 6.0 inches in Margate (Atlantic County), 5.5 inches in Egg Harbor City (Atlantic County), 5.0 inches in Atlantic City (Atlantic County), Ship Bottom (Ocean County), Green Creek and Cold Spring (Cape May County), 4.5 inches in Woodbine (Cape May County), 4.1 inches in Cape May City (Cape May County), 3.9 inches in Estell Manor (Atlantic County), 3.8 inches in Port Elizabeth (Cumberland County), 3.7 inches in Beachwood (Ocean County), 2.5 inches in Browns Mills (Burlington County) and Manasquan (Monmouth County), 2.3 inches in Hammonton (Atlantic County), 2.0 inches in Oakhurst (Monmouth County) and 0.8 inches in Lindenwold (Camden County). The low pressure system responsible for the snow developed along the coastal waters east of Georgia during the morning of the 17th. By the early evening of the 17th, a pair of low pressure systems were located east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina and Charleston, South Carolina. These combined into one overnight and passed about 250 miles east of the southern New Jersey coast on the morning of the 18th. The low was located too far offshore to back the heavy snow bands any farther west than the southeastern New Jersey coastal counties.

Winter Weather in WESTERN MONMOUTH, NEW JERSEY
From 17-FEB-04 19:00:00 to 18-FEB-04 00:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Weather in NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY
From 17-FEB-04 18:00:00 to 18-FEB-04 01:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in WESTERN OCEAN, NEW JERSEY
From 17-FEB-04 18:00:00 to 18-FEB-04 02:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Weather in CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY
From 17-FEB-04 19:00:00 to 18-FEB-04 01:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Weather in CUMBERLAND, NEW JERSEY
From 17-FEB-04 19:00:00 to 18-FEB-04 00:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Weather in EASTERN MONMOUTH, NEW JERSEY
From 17-FEB-04 19:00:00 to 18-FEB-04 02:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Weather in GLOUCESTER, NEW JERSEY
From 17-FEB-04 19:00:00 to 18-FEB-04 00:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in EASTERN ATLANTIC, NEW JERSEY
From 17-FEB-04 17:00:00 to 18-FEB-04 02:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in EASTERN CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY
From 17-FEB-04 16:00:00 to 18-FEB-04 02:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in EASTERN OCEAN, NEW JERSEY
From 17-FEB-04 18:00:00 to 18-FEB-04 02:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY
From 17-FEB-04 17:00:00 to 18-FEB-04 01:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in WESTERN ATLANTIC, NEW JERSEY
From 17-FEB-04 17:00:00 to 18-FEB-04 02:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow in WESTERN CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY
From 17-FEB-04 16:00:00 to 18-FEB-04 02:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER