A dangerous nor`easter producing heavy, wet snow, will have high impact and potential for numerous new power outages and some tree damage from eastern Pennsylvania into northern and western New Jersey.

A compact but powerful nor`easter will skirt the New Jersey coast this afternoon before heading toward Cape Cod this evening.

It will produce periods of heavy precipitation. All locations along and west of the Interstate 95 corridor are vulnerable to heavy snow, with the greatest uncertainty within 20 miles east of Interstate 95. Otherwise, there is very high confidence that this storm will make travel difficult or nearly impossible at times this afternoon across much of eastern Pennsylvania and northern New Jersey, basically from near Philadelphia, west and north to the New York state border and beyond.

Highest snow accumulations will be in the hilly areas.

Unnecessary travel is not recommended today. Thereafter, communities will need tonight and Thursday morning to dig out.

Caution is advised for those with heart problems as over exertion removing wet snow could prompt a heart attack.

The winter storm warning remains in effect until 3 a.m. Thursday.

Heavy snow with additional snow accumulations of 12 to 16 inches are expected.

Travel will be very difficult to impossible, including during the evening commute. Be prepared for significant reductions in visibility at times. Snowfall rates of nearly 2 inches an hour are expected at times through 7 p.m. If the snow is wet and clings to trees and wires, then branches would break and power outages would result.