National Weather Service warns: 'It's still a serious situation' Watch video
The monster East Coast blizzard that's been pounding New Jersey for more than a day will continue dropping snow through Saturday night before winding down between midnight and 4 a.m. Sunday, forecasters said.
Until the storm winds down, however, most of the Garden State remains under a blizzard warning, as winds continue to howl with powerful gusts and roads remain treacherous.
To top it off, there's a major threat of coastal flooding during two more tidal cycles, and then there's a risk of highway icing Sunday night as temperatures drop into the teens, said Lance Franck, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service regional office in Mount Holly.
"We've got quite a combination of elements," Franck said. "It's still a serious situation."
The latest forecasts call for between 20 and 30 inches of snow for much of New Jersey, and some towns could be looking at three feet of snow by the morning.
Here's what is expected as Saturday winds down:
SATURDAY NIGHT
Snow will continue across most of the state and it could be heavy at times, Franck said. Winds are expected to be strong, with gusts of 35 to 45 mph inland and as powerful as 65 mph along the coast.
The combination of heavy snow and blowing snow will reduce visibility to a point where driving is dangerous, Franck said. On top of that is the risk of power outages, and the risk of flooding along the Atlantic coast and also on the back bays.
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Officials are most concerned about the next two high tide cycles -- one from 7 to 8 p.m. Saturday and the other from 7 to 8 a.m. Sunday.
SUNDAY
After midnight, some bands of snow in eastern Pennsylvania are expected to rotate and push some additional snow across a good chunk of the state for several hours.
Aside from the extra snow and the flooding threat during the morning tidal cycle, Sunday should be a decent cleanup day, with mostly sunny skies, temperatures in the low to mid-30s, and light winds.
At night, however, temperatures will drop into the teens. Franck said there's a risk the melted snow will freeze on untreated roads and sidewalks, creating slick conditions for drivers and anyone walking.
Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality. Find NJ.com on Facebook.