Nor'easter Forecast In Camden County: What To Expect

CAMDEN COUNTY, NJ — A “major" nor'easter is expected to impact Camden County on Wednesday, producing plowable snow or heavy rain and packing 35 to 55-mph winds.

The National Weather Service is now labeling the "major" system a "nor'easter" since it's expected to produce strong, sustained damaging winds and precipitation over a 24-hour period on Wednesday.

Camden County began taking preparations for the storm on Monday, officials said.

"We are currently tracking a winter weather event that will be occurring on Wednesday that will bring a roller coaster of snow and rain over the course of 12 hours," Commissioner Barbara Holcomb, liaison to the Camden County Department of Public Works, said. "Prior to the forthcoming snow and sleet mix, which is expected to create slippery roadways throughout the county we are planning for a full-fledged snow event and will prepare accordingly."

At the Public Works complex in Lindenwold, more than 100 pieces of equipment are available to keep county roadways passable, officials said. When the weather becomes treacherous, personnel will be dispatched to 12 winter maintenance districts to salt and plow 1,200 lane miles of roadways across Camden County. The county's response plan calls for crews to be dispatched only to the zones where they are needed.

"If you don't have to travel during this period of time, please stay off the roads to give our crews the ability to effectively do their job. Anyone on the roadways during the storm should be prepared to encounter slick road conditions. And remember to always leave at least six car lengths behind our DPW vehicles while they work, and move any cars off the street and into a driveway while we continue our operations," Holcomb said. "Remember that it is illegal in New Jersey to plow or shovel snow from private property into roadways."

Camden County announced on Wednesday that it will keep its six coronavirus testing sites open despite the weather. They will do all they can to ensure that the sites are free of snow and ice. Read more here: Camden County To Keep COVID Test Sites Open Despite Storms

The county also issued a Code Blue Weather Emergency on Monday that will be in effect from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. each night this week, through Thursday.

"Current forecasts project temperatures under 30 degrees throughout the week, with a mix of winter precipitation expected Wednesday into Thursday," Commissioner Carmen Rodriguez, liaison to the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services, said. "When temperatures reach this low, it is important to check on elderly relatives and neighbors, and to ensure that they are warm and safe. Even inside, cold conditions can quickly become dangerous for vulnerable populations, especially those who lack heat or electricity."

When the Camden County Health Officer declares a Code Blue, municipalities with homeless populations, situational homeless or transient populations are expected to activate their Code Blue response plan to accommodate their immediate needs.

The Camden County Health Department and the Office of Emergency Management have worked with each municipality to ensure they have the proper resources to respond to these severe weather situations as part of their individual Code Blue plans.

Each municipality has identified its own location to accommodate those in their community seeking shelter from the severe weather. Anyone seeking shelter in a warming center should contact their local municipality. The new after-hours Code Blue Emergency Hotline phone number is 2-1-1

Additional resources are available by calling the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services at 800-999-9045, or by visiting www.camdencounty.com.

The storm will be fierce enough to knock down power lines and cause power outages and other damage, packing gale-force winds as strong as 35 to 55 mph across the state between 7 a.m. on Wednesday and 7 a.m. on Thursday.

Here are additional expected snow totals:

State officials said they have more than 400 pieces of road equipment available to make the roads safe, even though fewer people are taking to the roads because of the coronavirus outbreak.

AccuWeather is saying the system could be the "most significant winter storm in several years," one that could potentially become highly impactful and disruptive as the first round of coronavirus vaccines continue to be shipped around the country.

AccuWeather is warning of major disruptions to travel and even travel shutdowns, as well as shipping delays, school closings and power outages from this "blockbuster storm," — even though a number of New Jersey school districts have said they'll opt to go remote instead of closing.

Here is the forecast:

Wednesday

A chance of rain and snow between 10am and 1pm, then rain. High near 38. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Wednesday Night

Rain, snow, freezing rain, and sleet before 2am, then snow and sleet between 2am and 3am, then snow after 3am. The snow could be heavy at times. Low around 29. Blustery, with a northeast wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Little or no ice accumulation expected. New snow and sleet accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Thursday

Snow likely, possibly mixing with rain after noon, then gradually ending. Partly sunny, with a high near 35. North wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Thursday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20.