Tonight is as normal as one would expect for a January night. It will be seasonably chilly with a few passing snow flurries. This isn't an impactful event, but don't be surprised if you wake up with a little fresh coating in the morning.

Thursday's forecast is pleasant, with a mix of sun and clouds. Temperatures will warm throughout the day with sun and a favorable wind. Look for highs in the lower 40s in northwestern New Jersey, mid-40s in central New Jersey and flirting with 50 degrees in the southern half of the state.

This will be a very short lived warm up. Colder air is in the offing and will begin to unload the bitter chill on Friday. Arctic air will spread from the North Pole and Canada and swallow the East Coast in an icy grip.

What about the weekend? It is looking more and more likely that New Jersey will be in the middle of a big wintry mess. This weather system and what it could do to New Jersey is still evolving. The forecast will change with it. But this is what we know right now. The model guidance has been trending north. This means more snow in northern areas and less snow in southern and coastal neighborhoods. The issue with this scenario would be a heavier and wetter snow that transitions over to sleet and then over to freezing rain (i.e ice). Any kind of ice is a worst-case scenario. And if we do see ice develop, it will be around for quite some time. There is more punishing cold that will follow behind this storm next week.

Another scenario is one where the cold Arctic air is very stubborn. It forces the storm to stay south of the area. This would be the solution for all snow, for everyone, and it would be a good one. I would really like to see this forecast pan out. Shoveling out would be a pain, but this storm wouldn't be crippling.

As I said, this is an evolving situation, so make sure you stay with News 12 for all the latest and changing weather details. As always, I hope you are all well, healthy and safe. Stay tuned.