Governor Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency on Sunday, before what must be a major winter storm with up to 2 feet of snow for the northern half of the state due to a normal snowstorm that can also cause moderate coastal flooding.
The state of emergency takes effect at 7 pm tonight. There are also restrictions for commercial vehicles on several major highways and all state offices will be closed on Monday, except for essential workers.
- Track when it will snow and how much it will accumulate in your NJ city with this new map
All NJ Transit buses, trains (except Atlantic City Rail Line), light rail and link service will be temporarily suspended throughout the system on Monday.
“Heavy snowfalls, coastal floods and strong winds are expected in many parts of the state,” said Murphy in a statement. “The safety of residents and workers is our highest priority. Follow all climate-related guidelines and stay off the roads to allow emergency personnel access. “
The governor and other state officials encouraged residents to take care of any tasks or trips to the supermarket on Saturday so they could calm down on Monday and Tuesday and stay off the road.
The areas near Morristown and Wantage should now be between 30 and 60 centimeters, the National Weather Service said in a Sunday afternoon update, with New Brunswick forecast to reach 18 inches. Areas in the south and along the coast are expected to see significantly less snow.
Schools across the state have already started announcing closings and other schedule changes, with many shifting to totally remote education.
The governor’s state of emergency declaration usually comes with severe warnings for people to stay off the road, although police officers do not have the authority to fine drivers.
But the order enables early respondents to close roads, evacuate homes and command equipment or other resources to protect public safety.
In addition, after a high-impact storm, state officials seek financial assistance from the federal government to make repairs, and an emergency declaration is a necessary step in that process.
Monitor the social media accounts of the State Emergency Management Office and the New Jersey State Police for updates:
You can also subscribe to receive text and email alerts:
- NIXLE – www.nixle.com.
- NJ Alert – www.njalert.gov.
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Matt Arco can be contacted at [email protected].