UPDATE: The latest winter storm forecast has up to 2 feet of snow for half of the state. In some places it is possible 30 centimeters
Government Phil Murphy on Sunday declared a state of emergency ahead of a major winter storm that is expected to have up to 2 feet of snow for the northern half of the state due to a northeastern snowstorm that could also cause moderate coastal flooding.
The state of emergency will take effect tonight at 19:00. There are also restrictions on commercial vehicles on several highways and all state offices will be closed on Monday except for essential workers.
- Follow when it will snow, how much will accumulate in your NJ city with this new map
All NJ Transit buses, rail (except Atlantic City Rail Line), rail and Access Link services will be temporarily suspended on Monday.
“Heavy snow, coastal floods and strong winds are expected in many parts of the state,” Murphy said in a statement. “The safety of residents and workers is our top priority. Please follow all weather-related clues and stay off the roads to allow access for emergency personnel. ”
The governor and other government officials urged residents to take care of the tasks they did on Saturday to the supermarket so they can break away Monday and Tuesday and stay off the roads.
Areas near Morristown and Wantage are expected to be between 12 and 24 centimeters, the National Weather Service said in an update on Sunday afternoon, with New Brunswick forecasting to be 18 centimeters. Areas in the south and along the coast are expected to see significantly less snow.
Schools across the state have already begun announcing closures and other schedule changes, with many switching to distance education.
A governor’s emergency declaration usually comes with severe warnings for people to stay off the roads, even though law enforcers do not have the power to sell drivers.
But the order empowers first responders to close roads, evacuate homes and set up equipment or other resources to protect public safety.
In addition, government officials are calling for a stormy storm financial assistance from the federal government to do repairs, and the emergency declaration is a required step in the process.
Monitor New Jersey State Office of Emergency Management and New Jersey Police for updates:
You can also sign up for text and email alerts:
- NIKEL – www.nixle.com.
- NJ Alert – www.njalert.gov.
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Matt Arco can be reached at [email protected].