The leading edge of the storm brought the first flakes to far southern New Jersey as darkness fell.
By 8 p.m., there was a coating on the ground in Atlantic City, but the snowfall had not yet reached Trenton or points north.
Blizzard conditions were expected to develop overnight along the southern stretch of the shore. Snow was predicted to reach 22 inches there - and nearly as high in the Philadelphia suburbs, with less in northern New Jersey.
A blizzard warning was in effect from 4 p.m. Friday until 7 p.m. Saturday for Ocean, Cumberland, Atlantic, coastal Cape May and southeast Burlington counties. Most of the rest of the state had a winter storm warning. The populous northeastern corner had a winter storm watch. Sussex County, usually most prone to treacherous winter weather, was under a winter weather advisory for 2 to 5 inches forecast.
State road crews were preparing a fleet of 500 plows and salt spreaders, supplemented by about 1,450 contractors.
The speed limit on the southern stretches of the New Jersey Turnpike - below Exit 4 in Mount Laurel - was reduced to 40 mph on Friday night.
The state Motor Vehicle Commission announced its facilities would be closed Saturday, and Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson postponed a Saturday job fair.
Camden's mayor declared a state of emergency, and several local and county governments were warning people not to park on the street.
People were running errands Friday to stock up on supplies for the weekend - and not just bread and milk.
At midday, the crowd at Wine Legend in Cherry Hill was the size you might expect to see around rush hour. Manager Krishna Reddy said the combination of the snow and Sunday's Super Bowl meant extra customers.
In the parking lot, Mike Bateman, of Haddonfield, was loading six-packs of beer into his SUV, anticipating about a dozen friends coming over to watch Sunday's game. He usually would have saved the errand for Saturday, but knew the snow might make it hard to get out then.
"The party's happening either way," he said.
Forecasts called for Atlantic City to get some of the worst of the weather.
Tropicana Casino & Resort announced it was canceling Friday's Festival Carnivale and Saturday's Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing event.
Jon Pritko, manager of the Atlantic City Power Boat Show, was expecting Saturday attendance - usually the highest at the five-day event, which can attract up to 40,000 people on a good year - to be light.
But he said the show would go on unless a state of emergency was declared.
"It affects our exhibitors," he said. "It's a financial burden on them."
AAA Mid-Atlantic advised people to stay home and avoid dangers on the road and delays at airports.
"This will be a good weekend to stay put," said AAA Mid-Atlantic spokeswoman Tracy Noble.
Also Friday, President Barack Obama declared a disaster in seven southern New Jersey counties for a storm that dropped up to 2 feet of snow in some areas on Dec. 19 and 20. The declaration means the state qualifies for federal relief money.
