UPDATE: Coastal flooding expected to be worse Tuesday

New Jersey could get more than 8 inches of snow between Monday and Wednesday, but the real threat for the Jersey Shore is the potential for coastal flooding, meteorologists say.

A coastal flood warning is in effect in Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties through both high tide cycles Monday, with minor coastal flooding a possibility along the rest of the Jersey coastline, according to a hazardous weather briefing issued by the National Weather Service in Mount Holly.

But the flooding is expected to be worse during Tuesday morning's high tide, between about 8 a.m. and noon, said Joe Miketta, a meteorologist at the NWS in Mount Holly. The combination of a new moon and heavy onshore has the potential to cause widespread moderate flooding.

Wave heights on near-shore waters off the coast could are forecast to be 8 to 12 feet, which will likely cause "significant" beach erosion, according to the coastal flood warning in effect through 10 p.m. Monday. Street flooding and damage to vulnerable structures is possible Tuesday morning.

The predicted water levels at Seaside Heights and Atlantic City are expected to be 7.5 feet, according to the warning.

More snow to come

The storm that caused minor flooding and flurries Monday morning has already moved away from the state, Miketta said. But the snow isn't over.

Groundhog, weather service weigh in on rest of winter

More snow is expected Monday night through late Tuesday night. The bulk of the snowfall will be in southern New Jersey, including Ocean County, but maximum snowfall predictions from the NWS in Mount Holly show that Monmouth County could get up to 5 inches.

Miketta said less snow is expected the further north you get.

Warmer temperatures might cause the storm to start off with rain, but there's likely to be snow on the ground by Monday morning, Miketta said.

"The effects of the storm will be more pronounced along the coast, but everyone's going to feel it," Miketta said. "The precipitation might be heavier further to the south."

Meteorologists at the NWS in Mount Holly are analyzing the latest data on the formation of the storm, and will have more details by about 3 p.m.

Forecasters say snowfall totals are still unclear. Patches of light rain are expected in between snowfall through Wednesday morning, which when coupled with freezing temperatures expected could create dangerous driving conditions.

Cold air caused by a dip in the jet stream is going to help keep the storm cold, which will cause the snow, Miketta said.

A low-pressure system heading off the North Carolina coast is expected to strengthen throughout the day as it moves out to sea northeastward, according to the NWS in Mount Holly. That will bring "an onshore flow" to the Delaware and New Jersey coasts, just as another low-pressure coming from the west moves through the eastern seaboard and off the Virginia coast.

This is a breaking news story. Be sure to continue checking back for the latest weather updates.

See more details about today's forecast in the video below.

Steph Solis: 732-643-4043; ssolis@gannettnj.com.

Kala Kachmar: 732-643-4061; kkachmar@gannettnj.com.