What a Winter Storm Warning means

A Winter Storm Warning is issued when significant winter weather is expected and can create dangerous conditions. For Bay Head and Mantoloking, this is the “take action now” stage—finish preparations, avoid unnecessary travel during peak snowfall, and plan for potential power and accessibility issues along the barrier island and nearby mainland routes.

Storm timing: Saturday night through Monday

The warning is posted for 7 PM Saturday through 1 PM Monday, with impacts expected to ramp up Saturday night and continue into early Monday. The NWS also flags that hazardous conditions could impact the Monday morning commute.

Expected local impacts in Bay Head, Mantoloking, and nearby shore towns

1) Travel could become very difficult to impossible

Heavy snow and a period of mixed precipitation can quickly deteriorate road conditions. On the barrier island, limited access points and exposed roadways can make conditions change fast—especially as visibility drops in heavier bursts of snow.

2) Snow plus ice increases outage and damage risk

The warning includes the potential for around 0.10" of ice. Even small ice accretions, combined with heavy/wet snow, can weigh down branches and power lines, raising the risk of outages.

3) Dangerous cold adds risk during cleanup

The local forecast discussion highlights bitter cold and very low wind chills leading into the storm, which can make preparation and shoveling more hazardous and can cause icy surfaces to linger.

What the local NWS forecast is showing right now

The point forecast near Point Pleasant (a close proxy for Bay Head and Mantoloking conditions) indicates:

• Snow likely late Saturday night (chance increases after 1 AM).
• Sunday: heavy snow is possible, with a transition to a wintry mix (snow/freezing rain/sleet) at times, and strong coastal winds.
• Sunday night: continued wintry mix at times before returning to snow late.
• Monday: lingering snow (possibly mixed with rain early) before ending.

The exact snow vs. sleet/freezing rain line can shift, especially near the coast—so keep checking official NWS updates frequently.

Official sources and live updates

• Local NWS forecast (Point Pleasant area): https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=40.0804&lon=-74.0627
• Winter Storm Warning details (NJZ026 / Ocean County zone): https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=NJZ026&warncounty=NJC029&firewxzone=NJZ026&local_place1=Point%20Pleasant%20NJ&product1=Winter+Storm+Warning&lat=40.0804&lon=-74.0627
• NWS Philadelphia/Mt. Holly current briefing (PDF): https://www.weather.gov/media/phi/current_briefing.pdf

What to do now (before conditions worsen)

• Finish storm supplies today: food, water, medications, batteries, and pet supplies for 2–3 days.
• Plan to limit travel Sunday and Monday morning: this is when conditions may be worst.
• Charge devices and prep backup lighting: power banks, flashlights, and a battery radio if you have one.
• Protect pipes and prep for cold: insulate exposed plumbing, keep safe indoor warmth options ready.
• Check on neighbors: especially seniors or anyone who may need help with heat, food, or transportation.

This post summarizes official forecast information, but weather can change quickly. Use the NWS links above for the most up-to-date warnings and timing.