A winter storm occurred across most of New Jersey from the late afternoon of the 1st into the late afternoon of the 2nd. About six to twelve inches of snow fell across the region, with some locally higher amounts near the coast and lower amounts in Mercer, Somerset and Sussex Counties. Many snow emergencies were declared. The combination of strong winds and heavy snow made travel difficult at best and made it tough for road crews to keep thoroughfares opened. New Jersey State Police reported more than 500 crashes throughout the state from the start of the event through 330 p.m. EST on the 2nd. There were many fender benders, spin-outs and slides into other vehicles. The Mid-Atlantic AAA responded to 2,600 calls for assistance throughout their region. All schools as well as many county and municipal offices and businesses, restaurants and factories were closed on Monday March 2nd. Even Rutgers and Rowan Universities were closed. New Jersey state workers had a two hour delayed opening and early dismissal on the 2nd. Clean-up from the storm was estimated to cost the state about seven million dollars. Many meetings and sporting events were postponed on the 2nd. Many New Jersey Transit buses and trains were delayed. Schools did not reopen until the 3rd in Salem and Cumberland Counties and not until the 4th in Monmouth County.

Snow began across the southeast part of the state during the late afternoon on the 1st and spread into the northern part of the state by late in the evening. The snow fell heavy at times during the evening and overnight as gravity wave bands of heavier snow moved through the eastern part of the state. Snow of generally lighter intensity fell during the day on the 2nd, before it ended during the late afternoon.

In Somerset County, about twenty accidents occurred on Interstates 287 and 78. In Mercer County, about 15 crashes occurred on Interstates 95, 195 and 205. In Burlington County, a jackknifed tractor trailer closed two southbound lanes of Interstate 295 around 10 a.m. EST on the 2nd. In Camden County, a Brinks Truck overturned on New Jersey State Route 42 in Blackwood. In Gloucester County, a truck accident on U.S. Route 322 wrecked the front yard of a home in Harrison Township. In Atlantic County, twenty-three accidents were reported on the Atlantic City Expressway. In Cumberland County, 70 accidents were reported and included a disabled truck that blocked the Vineland exit of New Jersey State Route 55. In Cape May County, a head on collision on the George Redding Bridge caused injuries.
Snowfall totals included 13.5 inches in Colts Neck (Monmouth County), 13.0 inches in Wall (Monmouth County) and Bayville (Ocean County), 12.9 inches in Vineland (Cumberland County), 12.5 inches in Freehold (Monmouth County) and Barnegat Light (Ocean County), 12.4 inches in Northfield (Atlantic County), 11.5 inches in Malaga (Gloucester County), 11.3 inches in Atlantic City (Atlantic County), 11.0 inches in Point Pleasant (Ocean County), 10.6 inches in Hopatcong (Sussex County), 10.5 inches in New Lisbon (Burlington County), Eldora (Cape May County), Marcella (Morris County) and Whiting (Ocean County), 9.8 inches in Califon (Hunterdon County), 9.6 inches in Hammonton (Atlantic County), 9.5 inches in Seaville (Cape May County), 9.4 inches in Cream Ridge (Monmouth County), 9.0 inches in Mount Holly (Burlington County) and Woodbine (Cape May County), 8.9 inches in Stewartsville (Warren County), 8.5 inches in Millville (Cumberland County) and Butler (Morris County), 8.3 inches in Hackettstown (Warren County), 7.2 inches in Sicklerville (Camden County), 6.9 inches in White House Station (Hunterdon County), 6.8 inches at the Atlantic City International Airport, 6.7 inches in North Plainfield (Somerset County), 6.5 inches in Sewell (Gloucester County) and New Brunswick (Middlesex County), 6.1 inches in Parsippany (Morris County), 6.0 inches in West Cape May (Cape May County) and Newton (Sussex County), 5.6 inches in Maple Shade (Burlington County), 5.5 inches in Metuchen (Middlesex County), 5.2 inches in Somerdale (Camden County), 5.1 inches in Ewing (Mercer County) and 5.0 inches in Hamilton Square (Mercer County) and Hillsborough (Somerset County).
The winter storm was caused by a nor'easter that moved east of the region. The nor'easter low pressure system moved from the Georgia and South Carolina border at 7 a.m. EST on the 1st to about 150 miles east of the Atlantic City coast at 7 a.m. EST on the 2nd. It was passing through the Canadian Maritimes during the morning of the 3rd. Heavy snow bands associated with the gravity wave occurred during the pre-dawn hours on the 2nd when most of the heaviest snow fell.

Winter Storm in EASTERN CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY
From 01-MAR-09 17:00:00 to 02-MAR-09 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in WESTERN CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY
From 01-MAR-09 17:00:00 to 02-MAR-09 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in CUMBERLAND, NEW JERSEY
From 01-MAR-09 17:00:00 to 02-MAR-09 14:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in SALEM, NEW JERSEY
From 01-MAR-09 18:00:00 to 02-MAR-09 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in GLOUCESTER, NEW JERSEY
From 01-MAR-09 18:00:00 to 02-MAR-09 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY
From 01-MAR-09 18:00:00 to 02-MAR-09 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in EASTERN ATLANTIC, NEW JERSEY
From 01-MAR-09 17:00:00 to 02-MAR-09 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in WESTERN ATLANTIC, NEW JERSEY
From 01-MAR-09 17:00:00 to 02-MAR-09 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY
From 01-MAR-09 17:00:00 to 02-MAR-09 14:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY
From 01-MAR-09 18:30:00 to 02-MAR-09 17:30:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in WESTERN OCEAN, NEW JERSEY
From 01-MAR-09 18:30:00 to 02-MAR-09 14:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in EASTERN OCEAN, NEW JERSEY
From 01-MAR-09 19:00:00 to 02-MAR-09 14:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in EASTERN MONMOUTH, NEW JERSEY
From 01-MAR-09 20:00:00 to 02-MAR-09 13:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in WESTERN MONMOUTH, NEW JERSEY
From 01-MAR-09 20:00:00 to 02-MAR-09 13:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in HUNTERDON, NEW JERSEY
From 01-MAR-09 20:00:00 to 02-MAR-09 13:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in MORRIS, NEW JERSEY
From 01-MAR-09 22:00:00 to 02-MAR-09 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in WARREN, NEW JERSEY
From 01-MAR-09 22:00:00 to 02-MAR-09 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in SUSSEX, NEW JERSEY
From 01-MAR-09 22:00:00 to 02-MAR-09 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in MERCER, NEW JERSEY
From 01-MAR-09 20:00:00 to 02-MAR-09 13:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY
From 01-MAR-09 20:00:00 to 02-MAR-09 13:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in MIDDLESEX, NEW JERSEY
From 01-MAR-09 20:00:00 to 02-MAR-09 13:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter