Rain tapers off later, winter returns tonight; White Christmas possible north of I-78

Rain will end later today as a cold front passes, ushering in a cold northwest flow that will set the stage for a tranquil and seasonably cold period through next weekend.

If you’re dreaming of a White Christmas and live north of Interstate 78, your wish is likely to come to fruition. 

A quick burst of snow showers is expected to develop in the higher elevations north of the highway Tuesday afternoon and evening. But it will result in tricky travel.

“Much of the snow could fall in 30 to 60 minutes with a brief period of greatly reduced visibility and slippery stretches of pavement,” the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly advises.

The highest elevations could see an inch and a half, while a dusting to around an inch could fall in areas closer to Interstate 78.

From Christmas onward, calm weather is expected, with Christmas the coldest day of the stretch. High temperatures will not rise much above 30 degrees.

For the remainder of the week, forecast highs are around 40 degrees, with slightly warmer temperatures possible this weekend.