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The National Weather Service says between 20 and 30 inches of snow may fall in New Jersey.

(Weather Bell)

NOTE: This story is from January 2015. For information on the potential blizzard of March 2017, please visit NJ.com's homepage or NJ.com's weather page.

Blizzard warnings have been issued for northern and eastern New Jersey as a "crippling and potentially historic" storm sets its sights on the northeast.

Snow totals could exceed two and a half feet. Drifts could be far higher. High winds will reduce visibilities to near zero.

If the forecast verifies, it could be one of worst snowstorms to strike the region in recorded history, one that would bring business and transit in the Garden State to a virtual standstill.

In its warning, the National Weather Service in Upton, N.Y. outlined the impacts as follows:

"Life-threatening conditions and extremely dangerous travel due to heavy snowfall and strong winds, with whiteout conditions," the blizzard warning states. "Secondary and tertiary roads may become impassable. Strong winds may down power lines and tree limbs."

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly was more blunt: "Do not travel."

Blizzard warnings are in effect from Monday afternoon through Tuesday night in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Passaic and Union counties, while winter storm warnings are in effect in all other counties.

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Between 20 and 30 inches, with locally higher amounts, are expected in the areas under blizzard warnings. Snowfall totals are expected to be less in southern and western New Jersey, according to the weather service, but current forecasts call for virtually all of the Garden State to receive at least a foot of snow.

For localized snowfall forecasts, see the map at the bottom of this article.

Snow is expected to begin falling Monday around daybreak across New Jersey and increase in intensity as the day progresses. The evening commute may be significantly impacted.

"As the storm redevelops off the North Carolina coast, you’re going to see a fundamental shift in the intensity," said Steven DiMartino, a meteorologist and owner of NY NJ PA Weather. "Think of it like an engine revving up."

The heaviest snow is expected to fall Monday night into Tuesday morning, when snowfall rates could reach 2 to 4 inches per hour.

Winds are expected to increase as the snowfall rates do, and gusts could reach 50 miles per hour for several hours overnight Monday into Tuesday, resulting in blowing and drifting snow that could reduce visibilities to under a quarter of a mile.

The snow is expected to slowly taper off late in the day Tuesday.

NJ.com will have additional updates as more information becomes available.

Local snowfall forecasts

The map below displays the current snowfall forecast for New Jersey from the National Weather Service. Click or tap on the square above your hometown to see the current snowfall forecast as well as the times when the most heavy snow is expected to fall.

Map last updated: Jan. 25 5:45 p.m.

Stephen Stirling may be reached at sstirling@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @sstirling. Find him on Facebook.