Brick Nor'easter 2020 Impact: Snow, Rain, Strong Winds

BRICK, NJ — Snow started falling in portions of Brick Township on Wednesday as a nor'easter that was forecast to drop more than a foot of snow in some parts of New Jersey moved into the area.

The National Weather Service said the nor'easter — named because of the direction of its winds — was expected to bring sustained winds and precipitation through Thursday.

The storm was expected to pack winds gusting to 55 mph, and the strongest part of the storm arrived Wednesday evening, knocking out power to more than 7,500 homes in Ocean County, mostly on the barrier island. Read more: Nor'easter Knocks Out Power In Toms River, On Barrier Island

While the northwest portion of the state was expected to get the brunt of the snow, there was some that fell in parts of Ocean County Wednesday. In the northwest portion of the township, residents reported receiving snow. The National Weather Service had one report from Brick of a half-inch of accumulation as of 6 p.m. Wednesday. From Lakewood, the service received a report of 4 inches and the highest total in Ocean County came from Jackson, with 7 inches.

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The concerns about the potential impacts of the nor'easter led the Brick Township Schools to announce a fully virtual day for Thursday, with staff and students all remote. Read more: Brick Schools Shift To Virtual As Nor'easter Moves In

Brick Township police had urged residents to move cars from flood-prone areas, with parking available at Angela Hibbard Park, Edmund Hibbard Park, Windward Beach, Drum Point Sports Complex, or Brick Beach III.

The free coronavirus testing by Ridgewood Diagnostic Laboratories was canceled for Thursday because of the weather.

Public Works collections were expected to go on as scheduled, the township said.

Here were the expected snow totals around the state:

A coastal flood warning remains in effect through 3 p.m. Thursday.

The rain and snow was expected to become all rain after midnight, but the wind speeds were expected to increase and remain a concern until about 7 a.m. Sustained winds were expected in the 20- to 25-mph range, with gusts to 55 mph.

For Thursday, rain, snow, and sleet were likely before 7 a.m., with a chance of snow between 7 a.m. and noon. Winds will continue but will be decreasing over the course of the day as the nor'easter moves up and out of the area.

Chance of precipitation is 60 percent and new snow and sleet accumulation of less than a half-inch is possible.

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