The National Weather Service issued an official list of snow totals throughout Ocean County, derived from data submitted by trained weather spotters and members of the press who report their findings to the agency. The service’s office in Mount Holly also confirmed that the nor’easter, which swept through the Shore area Friday night through much of Saturday, met the criteria to be called a “blizzard” for historical and legal purposes.
Point Pleasant Beach was the only barrier island community to submit a report, and it was the county’s fourth-highest, with 17.5 inches. The highest overall snow total was recorded in Bayville, where 21 inches fell. The full list, from high to low amounts, appears below.
The NWS also conferred the title of “blizzard” to the storm, but only in areas directly near the coast.
“The National Weather Service … can confirm that blizzard criteria was met [Friday] night and [Saturday] morning along the coastal strip of New Jersey and along the Delaware beaches,” the service said, in area reaching from coastal Monmouth County to the southern border between Delaware and Maryland.
A blizzard is defined as three or more hours of visibility reductions to one quarter mile or less due to falling or blowing snow, and sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or greater.
Snow Totals for Ocean County:
Bayville 21.0 in 0212 PM 01/29 Public
2 NNW Beachwood 19.4 in 0400 PM 01/29 Broadcast Media
1 SW Lacey Twp 18.3 in 1113 PM 01/29 Trained Spotter
Point Pleasant Beach 17.5 in 0500 PM 01/29 Trained Spotter
Point Pleasant 17.0 in 0142 PM 01/29 Public
Forked River 17.0 in 0400 PM 01/29 Trained Spotter
Tuckerton 17.0 in 0400 PM 01/29 Trained Spotter
Manahawkin 16.0 in 1000 AM 01/29 Trained Spotter
Toms River 16.0 in 1245 PM 01/29 Trained Spotter
1 NW Point Pleasant 16.0 in 0400 PM 01/29 Trained Spotter
2 ESE Ramtown 15.3 in 0524 PM 01/29 Public
1 WSW Little Egg Harbor Twp 15.3 in 0555 PM 01/29 Broadcast Media
Lanoka Harbor 15.0 in 0854 AM 01/29 Public
Little Egg Harbor Twp 15.0 in 0615 PM 01/29 Trained Spotter
Brick 14.8 in 0324 PM 01/29 Trained Spotter
2 SSW Jackson 14.1 in 0312 PM 01/29 Trained Spotter
2 ENE Toms River 13.5 in 0500 PM 01/29 Trained Spotter
Whiting 13.1 in 0140 PM 01/29 Trained Spotter
1 SE Stafford Twp. 13.0 in 0200 PM 01/29 Trained Spotter
2 WNW Jackson 12.7 in 1029 PM 01/29 Trained Spotter
1 SW Toms River 12.3 in 0813 AM 01/29 Public
Stafford Twp. 2.8 NNW 12.0 in 0700 AM 01/29 COCORAHS
Berkeley Twp. 2.7 SSE 11.9 in 0700 AM 01/29 COCORAHS
Point Pleasant Beach 11.5 in 0700 AM 01/29 COCORAHS
Lakehurst 11.5 in 0830 AM 01/29 Public
Barnegat 11.4 in 0130 PM 01/29 Trained Spotter
2 WSW Lakewood Twp 11.0 in 0845 AM 01/29 Trained Spotter
Jackson 11.0 in 1000 AM 01/29 Trained Spotter
3 S Lakewood Twp 11.0 in 0818 PM 01/29 Public
2 NNE Lakehurst 10.5 in 0335 PM 01/29
Manchester Twp 10.5 in 0556 PM 01/29 Trained Spotter
1 NE Eagleswood Twp 10.3 in 0800 AM 01/29 Broadcast Media
Barnegat Twp 9.8 in 0800 AM 01/29 Trained Spotter
Long Beach Twp 1.4 SSE 6.4 in 0700 AM 01/29 COCORAHS
Pine Beach 0.4 NW 6.0 in 0800 AM 01/29 COCORAHS
Despite the storm long having moved out, meteorologists will be busy this week conducting research to determine just how intensive the effects were.
“Further analysis will be conducted in the days ahead to determine which additional inland zones, if any, reached blizzard criteria during this event,” the statement said. “Further analysis will also be conducted to determine the exact start and end times of blizzard conditions in the areas where such conditions have already been confirmed.”
