A wintry mix of sleet and freezing rain fell during the first half of the morning on the 24th across central and northern New Jersey. The resulting glaze on untreated roadways led to numerous accidents. Precipitation was spottier across south central New Jersey, but was steadier north of Interstate 195 which just about divides the state in half. Ice accretions in the southern part of the state were less than one-tenth of an inch while ice accretions across the northern part of the state averaged between one-tenth and two-tenths of an inch. In the southern part of the state, precipitation briefly started as sleet a little after Midnight EST before changing to freezing rain. In the northern part of the state, precipitation started as sleet between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. EST and changed over to freezing rain in all areas by 4 a.m. EST. Temperatures continued to rise that morning and by 7 a.m. EST, the freezing rain changed to plain rain in the southern part of the state. Between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. EST precipitation changed to plain rain in the northern part of the state.
The recent unseasonably cold weather made it easier for slippery conditions to develop on untreated roadways and led to a rash of accidents. In Morris County, Interstate 287 was closed during the morning because of accidents. Accidents occurred on Interstate 80 in Mount Olive Township. Numerous crashes also were reported on Interstate 80 in Warren County and on Interstate 78 in Warren Township and Interstate 287 in Bernards Township (both in Somerset County). In Middlesex County, the Garden State Parkway was closed before sunrise at the Driscoll Bridge because of nearly twenty accidents on the span. In all about 40 accidents were reported on the Garden State Parkway in Middlesex and Monmouth Counties between 230 a.m. EST and 6 a.m. EST. In Monmouth County, in Manalapan Township, six accidents were reported. In Ocean County, in Lakewood, multiple accidents were reported. One motorist was injured after striking a pole. In a separate incident, a woman carrying an infant slipped and fell injuring herself. The number of accidents slowed after sunrise.
The freezing rain and sleet was caused by a low pressure system and its approaching warm front. Precipitation developed preceding the warm front. The arctic high pressure system over the region left enough cold air near the surface for precipitation to start as sleet and freezing rain.

Winter Weather in WARREN, NEW JERSEY
From 24-DEC-08 03:00:00 to 24-DEC-08 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in SUSSEX, NEW JERSEY
From 24-DEC-08 03:00:00 to 24-DEC-08 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in WESTERN OCEAN, NEW JERSEY
From 24-DEC-08 01:00:00 to 24-DEC-08 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in GLOUCESTER, NEW JERSEY
From 24-DEC-08 00:00:00 to 24-DEC-08 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY
From 24-DEC-08 00:00:00 to 24-DEC-08 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY
From 24-DEC-08 00:00:00 to 24-DEC-08 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in WESTERN MONMOUTH, NEW JERSEY
From 24-DEC-08 04:00:00 to 24-DEC-08 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in WESTERN OCEAN, NEW JERSEY
From 24-DEC-08 01:00:00 to 24-DEC-08 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in MIDDLESEX, NEW JERSEY
From 24-DEC-08 01:00:00 to 24-DEC-08 08:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in MERCER, NEW JERSEY
From 24-DEC-08 00:00:00 to 24-DEC-08 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in HUNTERDON, NEW JERSEY
From 24-DEC-08 01:00:00 to 24-DEC-08 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY
From 24-DEC-08 01:00:00 to 24-DEC-08 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in MORRIS, NEW JERSEY
From 24-DEC-08 03:00:00 to 24-DEC-08 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter