BREAKING NEWS: Acting Gov. Donald T. DiFrancesco has ordered all non-essential state workers to stay home today and most area schools are closed because of the nor’easter moving through the area. New Jersey is under a state of emergency.
By T.J. Furman
|
Related stories: School closings information (March 5, 2001) |
As Central New Jersey waits for the mixture of snow, sleet and rain to change back over to snow Monday afternoon, the acting governor has declared a state of emergency.
All non-essential state personnel have been ordered to stay home today by Acting Gov. Donald T. DiFrancesco, who signed the executive order declaring a state of emergency yesterday. In addition, most school districts in the areas covered by The Packet Group’s newspapers in Hunterdon, Monmouth, Middlesex, Mercer and Somerset counties have announced they will be closed Monday.
A winter storm warning is in effect for Bucks (Pa.), Burlington, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth and Somerset counties.
Original predictions of a titanic blizzard by forecasters have been scaled back. The National Weather Service now says snow accumulations of 3 inches to 1 foot are likely in Central Jersey by the time the storm moves out of the area Tuesday night.
Snow, rain and sleet began falling in parts of Central Jersey as early as yesterday morning before the precipitation overtook the entire area by the afternoon hours. The weather service predicts the mixture of precipitation falling from the skies will change over to all snow by Monday afternoon and fall heavily.
When all is said and done Tuesday, the NWS says:
1 to 3 inches of snow will fall in Hunterdon County by Monday evening, with accumulations of 6 to 12 inches by Tuesday evening.
1 to 3 inches will fall in Mercer, Bucks and Bucks (Pa.) counties by Monday night, with 4 to 8 inches of the white stuff on the ground by Tuesday night.
Middlesex County will see 1 to 2 inches of snow by this evening with an accumulation of 4 to 8 inches by Tuesday night.
1 to 2 inches of snow will accumulate in Burlington and Monmouth counties by Monday evening, with totals of 3 to 6 inches by Tuesday evening.
Though the snow accumulations may not be as high as originally foretold, coastal flood warnings have been issued from Sunday night through Tuesday night for Middlesex and Monmouth counties. The NWS says the first threat of flooding is expected to take place during the high tide between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. Monday.
Minor coastal flooding is expected with the Monday morning high tide, moderate flooding with the Monday afternoon swell and severe coastal flooding is possible with the high tides Tuesday morning and afternoon, and Wednesday morning, according to the NWS. The tide may reach as high as 8 feet at Sandy Hook on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings.
The state Office of Emergency Management has been active since 8 a.m. Sunday morning. The state of emergency does not preclude citizens from travelling on the roadwats at this time, but the OEM and the Department of Tranportation "encourage motorists to refrain from travel until the storm has passed and all roadways cleared," a New Jersey State Police press release stated.
The state has released phone numbers for residents to call in order to check on road conditions throughout the state. At 6:20 a.m., the Garden State Parkway was reporting no delays, but warning motorists to drive with care. The New Jersey Turnpike has a reduced speed limit of 45 mph in place the length of the highway today and a ban on trailers has been enacted. The DOT reported at 6:20 a.m. that all roads in Central Jersey were passable. For up-to-date information, call the numbers below.
Forecast accumulation estimates Saturday ranged from 8 inches to 2 feet for Central Jersey by Tuesday the time the storm is expected to move out to sea. The weather service still says accumulations of up to 2 feet are possible in northern New Jersey.
Sunday’s forecast revision was due to the slow pace the storm set as it moved from the southeast corner of the United States to the mid-Atlantic coast, according to the NWS. The low pressure area creating the havoc was originally expected to be off the North Carolina coastline by Sunday afternoon. It did not do so until Monday morning, allowing a mass of warmer air to move into New Jersey before the precipitation began to fall.
For road condition information:
Garden State Parkway: (732) 442-8600
New Jersey Turnpike: (800) 352-4848
Atlantic City Expressway: (609) 965-7200
North region (Sussex, Warren, Hudson, Morris, Essex, Union, Bergen, Passaic counties): (201) 797-0300
Central region (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Somerset): (732) 308-4086
South region (Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland, Atlantic, Cape May): (856) 222-2098
Check back with this Web site for updates concerning this storm.