The sunshine and clear skies will soon come to an end in Ocean and Monmouth counties as snow and ice make their appearances overnight and into Thursday morning.

Snow is expected to develop from south to north, according to Ray Martin, meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Then, it will turn to sleet before transitioning to rain.

There could be up to an inch of snow before it changes to sleet, and up to a 10th of an inch of glaze ice, Martin said, which is when liquid rain freezes on contact.

Steven DiMartino, meteorologist at NY NJ PA Weather, said the worst of it will be in northern Jersey but it will be pretty slick in central Jersey Thursday morning, too.

“Especially in Monmouth County,” DiMartino said. “[The snow] is going to end faster in Ocean County.”

The snow is expected to start around 3 a.m. and change over to rain around 8 a.m., according to DiMartino. The rain will last until 3 p.m.

Once it switches to rain later in the morning, temperatures will be above freezing, topping out in the mid-40s in some areas of Ocean County, Martin said.

But it will remain gloomy throughout the day

“It will be less wintry during the afternoon, but not any nicer,” Martin said.

Jenna Calderón covers breaking news and cold cases in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Before coming to the Press, she covered The Queen City for Cincinnati Magazine in Ohio. Contact her at 330-590-3903; [email protected]