The National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch in effect for southern New Jersey from Thursday evening, Jan. 17, through late Thursday night.

The forecast warns of the possibility of three to four inches of snow accumulation. But with rain likely to fall on Thursday afternoon before the snow starts, the mix could be heavy — with standing water and slush freezing solid to create slippery roads and sidewalks. Visibility will be limited to a quarter mile or less during heavy snow.

The watch is in effect for the coastal counties of southern New Jersey, where the storm is expected to be worst.

NBC40 meteorologist Dan Skeldon, in his 5 p.m. Wednesday forecast, said southern New Jersey will be on the northern edge of a storm that could "possibly" bring one to as much as four inches of accumulating snow.

The high is expected to be 43 degrees on Thursday afternoon, but temperatures are expected to fall quickly on Thursday evening with a low of 27 degrees that night. The precipitation is expected to be all snow by 10 p.m.

The chance of precipitation is 90 percent, according to NWS forecasters.

Skeldon predicts the sun to return Friday with weekend high temperatures in the upper 40s. Wintry cold weather will move in Sunday night and remain for next week.