The forecasters had the snow starting after 10 a.m., but Mother Nature had other plans.

Small flakes began falling several hours before that, and by 8:30 a.m., there was already the beginnings of a coating on the streets.

The snow just intensified after that, and by mid-afternoon was falling heavy and fast.

The initial forecast for our area called for between 6 and 10 inches of snow by Jan. 22, but at about 4:15 p.m., National Weather Service radar picked up a band of what it called “heavy to moderate” snow forming over Somerset, Hunterdon and Morris counties in New Jersey and into Pennsylvania.

The band was expected to travel northeast, dumping about 2 inches of snow per hour. That forced NWS to up its snowfall forecast for us to 8-12 inches.

Schools had early dismissals – the district has used all of its allotted snow days for the year, so any more complete closings will cut into vacation time – and businesses closed up early, as well.

Franklinites made their way to grocery stores to pick up those gallons of milk and dozens of eggs that always seem to disappear right before a snow storm as plows did their best to clear roads clogged with drivers trying to make it home before the roads were … well … clogged.

The snow is expected to last through Jan. 22, after which a blanket of arctic air will descend on us, resulting in wind chills that could reach -12 degrees.

Jan. 21, 2014 snow storm