BREAKING NEWS: Predictions of a titanic snowstorm that would bury Central New Jersey in up to 2 feet of snow have been reduced to a passing storm that may leave behind 3 inches in its wake. A winter weather advisory is in effect for the area.
By T.J. Furman
Predictions on Friday and Saturday of a titanic blizzard that would cripple the area have been reduced Monday to a passing storm that may leave up to 3 inches of snow in its wake.
A winter storm warning for Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset, Monmouth, Hunterdon, Burlington and Bucks (Pa.) counties has been cancelled. The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory in those counties until 7 p.m. Tuesday and says snow may accumulate between 1 and 3 inches by Tuesday evening.
A winter storm watch was issued Saturday morning to take effect Sunday afternoon to Tuesday morning for all of Central New Jersey. At that time, the NWS called for snowfall totals between 8 inches and 2 feet. A winter storm warning was issued for much of the area Sunday, but snowfall predictions were scaled back to 4 inches to 1 foot. That warning was discontinued at 3:30 p.m. Monday by a NWS statement from its Mount Holly office.
Acting Gov. Donald T. DiFrancesco issued a state of emergency Sunday that continued into Monday. Out of fear of the nor’easter and the weather it would bring many schools in the area closed, Acting Gov. DiFrancesco closed all non-essential state offices and a runoff election for a Hopewell Township Committee race on Tuesday was postponed.
Snow, rain and sleet began falling in parts of Central Jersey as early as Sunday morning before the precipitation overtook the entire area by the afternoon hours. The weather service predicted the precipitation would change to a mixture and then back to heavy snow by Monday afternoon. Snow did fall in Central Jersey Monday afternoon, but not nearly as heavily or for as long as earlier forecasts had stated it would.
Though the snow accumulations may not be as high as originally foretold, coastal flood warnings remain in effect in through Tuesday night in Middlesex and Monmouth counties. 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 afternoon and Wednesday morning.
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 roadways.