Winter Storm Impacts In Somerset County: Here's What's Happening

Updated at 1:30 p.m. Thursday

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ — A winter storm is impacting the Somerset County area on Thursday, and it's expected to produce several inches of snow, ice or freezing rain.

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

Weather

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. 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

Here are the latest snow total for Somerset County, according to the National Weather Service:

• Basking Ridge - 4.0 in
• Branchburg Twp - 3.8 in
• Bridgewater - 3.5 in
• Warren - 3.5 in
• Somerville -3.1 in
• Manville - 3.0 in

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," Gov. Phil Murphy said.

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 were the expected snow totals:

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.

Somerset County Impacts:

Municipal Buildings

Due to inclement weather, Bridgewater and Hillsborough, Township Offices will be closed to the public Thursday.

In Bridgewater, most employees will be working remotely and will still be available via email and will be checking voicemails.

In Hillsborough, Municipal services are available.

Schools

All Hillsborough Public Schools will be an all virtual day on Thursday. All after-school activities are canceled and campuses will be closed. We will continue to monitor the forecast for Friday.

Due to the weather forecast, all Bridgewater-Raritan Schools will have a virtual-only day on Thursday. The district will be open for virtual instruction only and all staff and students should work from home.

Due to the inclement weather forecast, all Warren Township Schools will have a full-distance learning day on Thursday.

Kohler Waste Management

"We have been out trying to make pick ups this morning, but the roads have become to slippery for our trucks. We are forced to call them back at this hour. Apologies for any inconvenience, but the safety of our crews is our first concern."

All Monday and Thursday Pick-Ups will begin again on Monday and all Tuesday and Friday Pick-Ups will begin again on Tuesday, Feb. 23.

Somerset County Services

Due to the winter storm Thursday, all public transit routes including the CAT, DASH, and SCOOT shuttles will operate on a holiday/modified schedule for the remainder of the day.

Para-transit services will continue to operate according to the regular schedule as long as weather conditions allow for safe access to consumers’ residence.

As a result of the incoming storm, Somerset County is postponing its COVID vaccination clinic for Thursday at Raritan Valley Community College. Read More: Somerset County Postpones COVID Vaccine Clinic Due To Snow

Meals on Wheels deliveries are canceled for Thursday. Clients are encouraged to use the frozen meals or the shelf-stable meals that were delivered earlier in the season.

The Office on Aging & Disability Services, located at 27 Warren St., Somerville, is closed to walk-ins and will not be providing curbside assistance on Thursday. Clients and caregivers who need assistance can call 908-704-6346 or toll-free at 1-888-747-1122 and leave a brief message with a name, address, and phone number and staff will return calls as soon as possible.

Raritan Valley College is also closed on Thursday.

Road impacts:

Warrenville Road, Hillcrest Road and Washington Avenue north of Route 22 will be closed until further notice due icy conditions.

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:

Wednesday Night: A chance of snow, mainly after 4 a.m. Increasing clouds, with a low around 22. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming northeast after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Thursday: Snow, mainly after 7 a.m. High near 29. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Thursday Night: Snow. Low around 26. Northeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Friday: Snow likely before 1 p.m., then a chance of rain and snow. Cloudy, with a high near 35. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Friday Night: A slight chance of snow before 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

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