The National Weather Service has issued winter storm watches for parts of 8 New Jersey counties where the heaviest snow is expected Sunday.

Wintry weather will really ramp up this afternoon, with the heaviest and most widespread snow expected around dinnertime (early evening).

Most of the tri-state was scheduled to be under a winter storm warning by the afternoon, when conditions pick up and heavy snow bands could drop as much as an inch of snow per hour. For some, it’ll be the most snow in nearly three years.