A winter storm dumped about six inches of snow on Ocean City in about six hours on Thursday.
The National Weather Service had issued a winter storm warning that suggested the snow would start early Thursday morning, but it rained through the early hours, and the first flakes didn't fall until 11 a.m.
A wet snowfall increased rapidly through the afternoon with about six inches accumulated by 5 p.m. The forecast calls for another inch or two before the snow tapers off early in the evening.
The Ocean City School District announced early Thursday morning that schools would close for the day due the forecast. The tentative date for the last day of school and Ocean City High School graduation had already been pushed back from June 15 to June 17, after two snow days and one school cancellation for flooding. Thursday's snow day likely will move the last day of school to June 18.
The Ocean City Free Public Library and the Ocean City Aquatics and Fitness Center closed at 3 p.m. Thursday as the snow began to accumulate.
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Gov. Chris Christie had announced a state of emergency Wednesday night for the entire state. (
What does that mean?)
The sun is expected to return on Friday but the temperature will not rise above 26 degrees in Ocean City, and wind chill values could be near zero.
The predicted weekend highs are 37 degrees on Saturday and 41 degrees on Sunday.
