A winter storm watch is usually issued when a storm system is one to two days from starting. This long lead time is used to help you get ready if you have to make travel or work changes. Eventually as the storm gets closer, the winter storm watch either turns to a winter storm warning or a winter weather advisory.

Around 2:30 p.m., some snow was showing up on weather radar in the Garden State, but a dry layer of air in the lower atmosphere was causing the snow to evaporate before reaching the ground. That’s a phenomenon known as virga. Shortly before 4 p.m., light snow was reported in parts of Cape May County, including Wildwood and Cape May.

A procession of winter storms is forecast to bring snow, sleet, ice and potentially flood-inducing rain to sprawling bands of the U.S. this week.