Seemingly endless winter no record-breaker in N.J.

Even with more than a dozen storms, this is not likely to end up being the snowiest, coldest or most troublesome winter on record in New Jersey.

Eighteen storms have left at least 2 inches of snow behind in some part of New Jersey this season, said state climatologist Dave Robinson, counting Monday’s helping of the white stuff.

But the total accumulations — and headaches — still don’t measure up to other notorious winters, he said.

The winter of 1993-94 remains the benchmark for the kind of disruption the snow has caused this year, he said.

“You had a series of snow events and ice storms, and public schools were closed upwards of 10 and 12 times,” Robinson said. “That to me is what you compare all winters since against, and this winter is up there.”

The statewide snow total average is 47 inches, making this the ninth snowiest winter on record in New Jersey. Robinson said it’s not likely we’re going to break the record of 62 inches recorded during the winter of 1995-96.

“The ’95-’96 winter had a pretty good snowstorm or two in March and even one in early April, so I’m not about to say that the quest to surpass (it) is over, but it’s going to be tough to get that amount of snow from here on out,” Robinson said.

And, even with recent below-normal temperatures, this winter may be just the 35th coldest on record because of the warm breaks early in the season, he said.