UPDATE: ‘Dangerously Cold’ Snowstorm Will Hit Thursday Night, NWS Says

A hazardous storm packing up to seven inches of snow and bitter cold will slam into the region Thursday evening and overnight into Friday, according to the National Weather Service’s (NWS) Mount Holly office.

A mix of rain and snow should start some time after rush hour Thursday, according to the NWS forecast, and should last at least through Friday morning, if not into the day Friday.

“Travel should become hazardous Thursday evening as snow begins to accumulate,” forecasters wrote in their most recent public briefing.

Blowing and drifting snow could become a problem through the night, NWS forecasters said, as snowfall hits about an inch per hour, combined with steady winds of 15 to 25 mph.

“It is possible that the combination of snow and wind creates near-blizzard conditions at times,” forecasters wrote in their briefing.

Total snowfall will be anywhere from three to seven inches, the NWS said.

The accompanying temperatures could be brutal, according to the NWS. The overnight low should be in the mid-teens, the NWS said, and won’t get much warmer during the day Friday.

Combined with high winds, it could end up feeling below zero most of the day Friday, the NWS said.

Rapidly falling temperatures Thursday night could result in a flash freeze, as well, the NWS said.

Camden County officials said they’re already gearing up for the storm, putting 70 pieces of snow-moving equipment on standby ahead of the storm.

“Our public works employees are on standby and our equipment has been prepped to address any and all situations that may arise,” said freeholder Ian Leonard, liaison to the Camden County Department of Public Works. “We are continuing to monitor the developing system in order to respond to any weather condition and keep Camden County’s roadways passable.”

The county has also issued a Code Blue alert from 6 p.m. Thursday through 6 p.m. Friday in order to assist homeless and transient residents; officials also asked residents to check on elderly or handicapped neighbors during the storm, especially in case of a power outage.