Winter Storm Impacts In Ocean County: Here’s What’s Happening

OCEAN COUNTY, NJ — A winter storm was expected to continue to impact the Ocean County area and New Jersey on Thursday, and it’s expected to produce snow, ice, or freezing rain.

The storm is expected to affect roads and could bring down power lines and cause power outages (see road impacts, latest estimated snow totals and forecast below).

The Ocean County Sheriff's Office issued a pair of alerts warning motorists to take it slow on the roads that were covered in ice Thursday morning. Ocean County was getting mostly sleet and freezing rain as of about 10 a.m. Thursday that was coating a dusting of snow.

Gov. Phil Murphy was to speak at 9 a.m. on Thursday and address the winter snowstorm and the impact it's having on roads and COVID-19. Read more: WATCH LIVE: Gov. Murphy Issues NJ Winter Snowstorm Update

Patch will provide town-by-town snow totals. Read more: Who Got The Most Snow? NJ Town-By-Town Snow Totals

The National Weather Service issued winter storm alerts across New Jersey, saying that snow and sleet accumulations could bring anywhere from 3 to 8 inches across the state.

More than 1 inch an hour could fall between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Thursday.

"God knows we're getting another storm," Murphy said Wednesday.

State officials said they’re concerned about the storm’s impact on vaccination distribution. The Burlington and Morris mega-sites will close on Thursday. Read more: NJ Extends COVID Emergency, Citing Need To Boost Vaccines

The Ocean County Health Department canceled Thursday’s clinic, and said people who have appointments Thursday should come Friday at the time they were scheduled for on Thursday. Read more: Ocean Health Dept. Cancels COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Due To Storm

The latest updates show that more snow than expected will fall in Central Jersey, South Jersey and the Jersey Shore, although those areas could also get a significant amount of sleet, freezing rain and ice that could make a mess of roads.

The storm could be a combined snow and ice storm, one that could knock down wires and cause power outages, according to the National Weather Service.

Here is the anticipated snowfall:

State officials said they have several hundred pieces of road equipment available to make the roads safe, even though fewer people are taking to the roads because of the coronavirus.

Road impacts:

Speed restrictions are in place on the Garden State Parkway in both directions from Brick Township north to Irvington, the state Department of Transportation said.

A speed restriction was imposed on the Garden State Parkway in both directions from Southern Terminus/CR 109 in Cape May to Exit 41 - CR561/Jimmie Leeds Road in Galloway Twp: 45 miles per hour due to roadway conditions.

A speed restriction was imposed on the New Jersey Turnpike in both directions from North of Interchange 7A - I-195 in Robbinsville to North of Interchange 8A - NJ 32 in South Brunswick Twp: 45 miles per hour for Salting Operation.

New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti has issued a commercial vehicle travel restriction on multiple Interstate highways in New Jersey starting at 4 a.m., Thursday, February 18 based on the forecast for heavy snow.

Snow was hitting overnight before the morning commute, with periods of heavy snow forecast during the day. Precipitation is expected to continue through the afternoon commute and into Friday. The travel restrictions are being coordinated with neighboring states.

In addition to the commercial restrictions, all motorists are strongly encouraged to stay off the roads on Thursday. The safest place to be is at home.

The commercial vehicle travel restriction will begin at 4 a.m., Thursday, February 18 and will be in place until further notice for the following highways in both directions:

· I-78, from the Pennsylvania border to I-95 (New Jersey Turnpike)
· I-80, from the Pennsylvania border to I-95 (New Jersey Turnpike)
· I-195, from I-295 to NJ Route 138
· I-280, from I-80 to I-95 (New Jersey Turnpike)
· I-287, from NJ Route 440 to the New York State border
· I-295, from Exit 60 (I-195) north to the Scudders Falls Bridge (Pennsylvania border)
· NJ Route 440, from the Outerbridge Crossing to I-287

The commercial vehicle travel restriction applies to:
· All tractor trailers (exceptions as listed in the Administrative Order)
· Empty straight CDL-weighted trucks
· Passenger vehicles pulling trailers
· Recreational vehicles
· Motorcycles

This restriction DOES NOT apply to:
· The New Jersey Turnpike
· The Garden State Parkway
· The Atlantic City Expressway
· I-76
· I-676
· Public safety vehicles, sworn and civilian public safety personnel; as well as other personnel directly supporting healthcare facilities or critical infrastructure such as providing fuel or food.

For a complete list of operations or personnel that are exempt from the travel ban, see the Administrative Order.

Trucks that are already in New Jersey when the travel restrictions go into place are encouraged to pull off in truck stops to wait out the storm – DO NOT PARK ON SHOULDERS.

Here is the forecast:

• Today: Snow and sleet before 4 p.m., then sleet between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., then rain after 5 p.m. High near 33. Northeast wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. Total daytime snow and sleet accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.
• Tonight: Freezing rain and sleet, becoming all sleet after 5 a.m. Low around 29. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New ice accumulation of less than a 0.1 of an inch possible. New sleet accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
• Friday: Freezing rain and sleet before 9 a.m., then rain between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., then a chance of rain and snow after 4 p.m. High near 36. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. Little or no ice accumulation expected. New snow and sleet accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
• Friday Night: A chance of rain and snow before 8pm, then a slight chance of snow between 8pm and 2am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 27. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

There is a winter weather advisory in effect from 4 a.m. Thursday to 10 a.m. Friday for Ocean County. Forecasters are expecting a mix of snow and ice, with slippery roads and the potential for hazardous driving through Friday morning.

Many Ocean County school districts have shifted to remote instruction for Thursday because of the snowfall potential.

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