UPDATED FORECAST: Up to 8 inches of snow, nasty mix of sleet, freezing rain to slam state. Winter storm warnings expanded to 11 counties.

Winter storm warnings and advisories have been issued for 19 New Jersey counties starting Friday afternoon with a dangerous combination of heavy snow and ice in the forecast.

The National Weather Service upgraded winter storm watches to warnings on Thursday afternoon for the eight northern counties expected to see the highest snowfall totals.

Several counties through central New Jersey that had previously been under winter storm watches have been downgraded to winter weather advisories.

The lower snowfall totals are now expected in those areas due to a mix of sleet and freezing rain, but the weather service notes that a dangerous glaze of ice could form.

The winter weather advisories include 11 other counties. Only Atlantic and Cape May counties are not under a weather alert as of Thursday afternoon.

The storm is expected to cause widespread disruptions throughout the state on the busy travel day after Christmas.

“Travel could be very difficult,” the weather service said. “The hazardous conditions could impact the Friday evening commute.”

Current weather alerts by county

Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union counties - Winter storm warning from 4 p.m. Friday to 1 p.m. Saturday. Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 4 and 8 inches.

Morris and Sussex counties - Winter storm warning from 1 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Saturday. Heavy snow expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations between 5 and 8 inches.

Warren County - Winter storm warning from 1 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Saturday. Heavy mixed precipitation expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations between 4 and 6 inches and ice accumulations around a light glaze.

Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth and Somerset counties - Winter weather advisory from 3 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Saturday. Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations between 3 and 5 inches and ice accumulations around a light glaze.

Burlington, Camden and Ocean counties - Winter weather advisory from 3 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Saturday. Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations between 1 and 3 inches and ice accumulations around a light glaze.

Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties - Winter weather advisory from 3 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Saturday. Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations up to 1 inch and ice accumulations up to one tenth of an inch.

Saturday morning will see the heaviest snow tapering off, though some lingering snow showers remain possible, mainly across northern areas.

Temperatures will reach the upper 20s to low 30s in northern New Jersey, with mid to upper 30s and low 40s elsewhere.

Current weather radar