late winter storm hits Belmar Today

Days before winter's end, storm dumps snow on Northeast
March 16, 2007 12:31 EDT


TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- Spring officially arrives next week, but winter in the Northeast is going out with a potentially heavy punch.

Officials in New Jersey are expecting as much as 12 inches in some parts of the state. Farther south, forecasts call for up three inches of rain. In between, a treacherous mix of snow, sleet and rain.

New Jersey state meteorologist David Robinson says "there's a lot of moisture with this storm." He adds a dozen Garden State locations were reporting temperatures as high as 80 degrees just two days ago, but winter seems "a little reluctant" to go.

The storm is already complicating air travel. Airlines have canceled hundreds of flights, particularly those going into and out of the New York airports. The National Weather Service says New York City could get three to six inches of snow and sleet.