NJ Wetter: Winter storm clock on display in 17 counties. Up to 20 cm of snow and sleet can fall in the Thursday storm.

The National weather service issued a winter clock for 17 New Jersey counties ahead of a storm that is expected to shed 4 to 8 inches Snow and sleet in our region Thursday and early Friday along with a thick layer of ice in some areas.

The Winter storm clock Covers all of northern New Jersey, most of central New Jersey and the western region of South Jersey. It is effective from early Thursday morning through Friday afternoon, with exact times varying from region to region.

LIKEWISE: When does the snow start? Latest update on timing, track for ‘Slop-Fest’ winter storm

While a watch isn’t as urgent as a warning, it alerts local residents and officials that potentially dangerous winter weather is on the way. If forecasters remain confident that the storm will drop heavy snow, heavy sleet, or heavy freezing rain, the watch will likely be upgraded to an alert before the storm – the last in our long parade of February storms – arrives.

The National Weather Service is forecasting 6 to 8 inches of snow for parts of New Jersey and at least a few inches for the entire state on Thursday. Here is the latest forecast on the time and precipitation types.

The storm could be a “slop-fest,” said forecaster Nick Carr. “What we might see is an inch or two of snow at the front end and then an inch or two of sleet.”

Active storm warnings

Here’s a look at the winter storm warnings in each county starting late Tuesday afternoon:

Bergen County: Winter storm clock from Thursday 6 a.m. to Friday 6 a.m. Forecasters expect 4 to 8 inches of snow in this area.

READ Capitol rioters planned to sell stolen Pelosi laptops to Russian intelligence agencies

Burlington County: Winter storm clock from Thursday 4 a.m. to Friday 1 p.m. Forecasters expect 3 to 6 inches of snow and sleet in the northwestern region of the county, as well as a tenth of an inch to a quarter of an inch of ice.

Camden County: Winter storm clock from Thursday 4 a.m. to Friday 1 p.m. Forecasters expect 3 to 6 inches of snow and sleet in this area, and a layer of ice from a tenth of an inch to a quarter of an inch.

Essex County: Winter storm clock from Thursday 6 a.m. to Friday 6 a.m. Forecasters expect 4 to 8 inches of snow in this area.

Gloucester County: Winter storm clock from Thursday 4 a.m. to Friday 1 p.m. Forecasters expect 3 to 6 inches of snow and sleet in this area, and a layer of ice from a tenth of an inch to a quarter of an inch.

Hudson County: Winter storm clock from Thursday 6 a.m. to Friday 6 a.m. Forecasters expect 4 to 8 inches of snow in this area.

Hunterdon County: Winter storm clock from Thursday 4 a.m. to Friday 1 p.m. Forecasters expect 5 to 8 inches of snow and sleet in the northwestern region of the county.

Mercer County: Winter storm clock from Thursday 4 a.m. to Friday 1 p.m. Forecasters expect 3 to 6 inches of snow and sleet in this area, and a layer of ice from a tenth of an inch to a quarter of an inch.

Middlesex County: Winter storm clock from Thursday 4 a.m. to Friday 1 p.m. Forecasters expect 3 to 6 inches of snow and sleet in this area, and a layer of ice from a tenth of an inch to a quarter of an inch.

READ Chuck Yeager, US Air Force officer who broke the speed of sound, dies at the age of 97

Monmouth County: Winter storm clock from Thursday 4 a.m. to Friday 1 p.m. Forecasters expect 3 to 6 inches of snow and sleet in the western region of the county, as well as a tenth of an inch to a quarter of an inch of ice.

Morris County: Winter storm clock from Thursday 4 a.m. to Friday 1 p.m. Forecasters expect 5 to 8 inches of snow and sleet in the northwestern region of the county.

Passaic County: Winter storm clock from Thursday 6 a.m. to Friday 6 a.m. Forecasters expect 4 to 8 inches of snow in this area.

Salem County: Winter storm clock from Thursday 4 a.m. to Friday 1 p.m. Forecasters expect 3 to 6 inches of snow in this area, as well as a tenth of an inch to a quarter of an inch of ice.

Somerset County: Winter storm clock from Thursday 4 a.m. to Friday 1 p.m. Forecasters expect 5 to 8 inches of snow and sleet in the northwestern region of the county.

Sussex County: Winter storm clock from Thursday 4 a.m. to Friday 1 p.m. Forecasters expect 5 to 8 inches of snow and sleet in the northwestern region of the county.

Union County: Winter storm clock from Thursday 6 a.m. to Friday 6 a.m. Forecasters expect 4 to 8 inches of snow in this area.

Warren County: Winter storm clock from Thursday 4 a.m. to Friday 1 p.m. Forecasters expect 5 to 8 inches of snow and sleet in the northwestern region of the county.