The development of the blizzard/winter storm began along the southeast coast on Wednesday January 3, 2018. An amplifying upper level trough spawned the development of low pressure off the coast of Florida. The low pressure rapidly intensified on Wednesday night through Thursday January 4, 2018 as it moved north-northeast along the coast. The low passed just east of the 40��N 70��W benchmark Thursday afternoon. The central pressure when the storm developed was around 1004 millibars at 1 pm Wednesday. 24 hours later, the central pressure fell to around 950 mb, approximately a 54 millibar drop. The rapid intensification of the storm led to heavy snow, strong winds, and near-blizzard conditions across portions of Northeast New Jersey.
Thousands of flights were cancelled at Newark Airport on January 4, 2018. Homes and businesses lost power and there were numerous accidents on area roadways.

Winter Weather in WESTERN PASSAIC, NEW JERSEY
From 04-JAN-18 05:30:00 to 04-JAN-18 16:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A cooperative observer reported 1.5 inches of snowfall in Wanaque. Snowfall amounts increased to around 4 inches towards the southeastern portion of Western Passaic County.

Winter Weather in EASTERN PASSAIC, NEW JERSEY
From 04-JAN-18 05:30:00 to 04-JAN-18 16:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Locally heavy snowfall was reported in Wayne where amateur radio reported 6.5 inches of snow. CoCoRaHS observers in Little Falls and 1 SSE of Hawthorne reported 4 inches of snowfall. An emergency manager in Pompton Lakes reported 3 inches of snowfall.

Winter Weather in WESTERN BERGEN, NEW JERSEY
From 04-JAN-18 05:30:00 to 04-JAN-18 16:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Amateur radio reported 4 to 6 inches of snowfall.

Winter Storm in WESTERN ESSEX, NEW JERSEY
From 04-JAN-18 05:00:00 to 04-JAN-18 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public reported 6 inches of snow in West Caldwell. Winds gusts 30 to 40 mph at the Caldwell Airport during the afternoon and evening on January 4, 2018.

Winter Storm in EASTERN ESSEX, NEW JERSEY
From 04-JAN-18 05:00:00 to 04-JAN-18 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The FAA Contract Observer at nearby Newark-Liberty Airport reported 8.4 inches of snowfall. Winds also gusted to 44 MPH at 4:38 PM at the airport.

Winter Weather in WESTERN UNION, NEW JERSEY
From 04-JAN-18 05:30:00 to 04-JAN-18 16:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

A CoCoRaHS observer in Westfield reported 5 inches of snow. A CoCoRaHS observer in New Providence reported 4.5 inches of snow.

Winter Storm in HUDSON, NEW JERSEY
From 04-JAN-18 05:00:00 to 04-JAN-18 16:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A COOP Observer in Harrison reported 8.0 inches of snow. A trained spotter in Hoboken reported 8.8 inches of snow. A Weather Flow station at Bayonne measured a 44 MPH wind gust at 10:10 AM.

Winter Storm in EASTERN UNION, NEW JERSEY
From 04-JAN-18 05:00:00 to 04-JAN-18 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The FAA Contract Observer at Newark-Liberty International Airport reported 8.4 inches of snow.  A trained spotter in Elizabeth reported 8.5 inches of snow. Winds gusted to 44 mph at 4:36 PM at Newark-Liberty International Airport.

Winter Storm in EASTERN BERGEN, NEW JERSEY
From 04-JAN-18 05:30:00 to 04-JAN-18 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Trained spotters and the public reported 6 to 9 inches of snowfall. At 1:30 PM, broadcast media reported a partial roof collapse at a gas station on River Drive in Garfield. Winds gusted to 49 MPH at the Teterboro Airport at 5:57 PM.