A storm that was expected to bring the first meaningful snowfall of the season to parts of North Jersey on Dec. 2 fell short of early projections, as warmer ocean air cut into temperatures and turned precipitation into cold rain for most of the region, according to local weather observers.

“It’s too early in the season,” said Bob Ziff of the North Jersey Observers. “To have any kind of substantial snowfall, we need deep cold air in place which we didn’t have and a storm positioned off the coast to pull down even more cold air and moisture.”

Instead, the storm tracked from the Southwest and hugged the shoreline, pulling in milder marine air that kept most communities above freezing. That setup favored higher-elevation areas farther from the ocean, such as the Poconos and upstate New Yor

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