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

CAMDEN COUNTY, NJ — A winter storm was expected to continue to impact Camden County 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, the latest estimated snow totals and forecast below).

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.

The National Weather Service began tracking snow totals. Totals for Camden County can be found below:

• Lindenwold 1.7 in

Camden County offices were closed as employees worked remotely. The Camden County Library System has cancelled curbside services for the day.

Camden County College is holding classes virtually. Camden County Technical Schools students are also learning remotely. The county’s pop-up COVID-19 testing site located at Dr. Charles Brimm Medical Arts High School is closed today.

The Camden County Department of Public Works hit the streets early to keep roads clear.

“Current forecasts suggest that snow will continue falling for the next several hours before changing over to sleet and later freezing rain. At this time, we expect between 2.5” and 4.5” of accumulation when all is said and done,” Commissioner Al Dyer, liaison to the Camden County Department of Public Works, said. “Public works crews have been out on the roads since early this morning to make sure that they remain clear and passable. If you don’t have to travel, please stay off the roads and stay safe. If travel is absolutely necessary, make sure you give county crews plenty of space to clear and treat the roadway.”

More than 100 pieces of equipment and 100 employees have been deployed from the Public Works complex in Lindenwold to Camden County’s 12 winter maintenance districts. The county’s response plan calls for crews to be dispatched only to the zones where they are needed.

“Any significant snow event brings with it the risk of downed trees, branches, and power lines. Please report any outages you experience to your utility company,” Commissioner Jonathan Young, liaison to the Camden County Office of Emergency Management, said. “We strongly recommend that everyone to stay off of the roads as county personnel work to keep them clear.”

Camden County will be under a Code Blue alert until noon on Thursday. The alert will also be in effect from 7 p.m. on Feb. 18 until 7 a.m. on Feb. 19; from 7 p.m. on Feb. 19 until noon Feb 20; from 7 p.m. on Feb. 20 until noon on Feb. 21; and from 7 p.m. on Feb. 21 until 7 a.m. on Feb. 22.

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

State officials said they’re concerned about the storm’s impact on vaccination distribution. The Moorestown Mall and Morris County mega-sites will close on Thursday. The Gloucester County site, as well as the Camden County vaccination site at Camden County College, remain open. Read more: NJ Extends COVID Emergency, Citing Need To Boost Vaccines

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.

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.

Here were the expected snow totals:

Here is the upcoming forecast for Camden County:

Road impacts:

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.

Thursday

Snow and sleet before 4pm, then freezing rain between 4pm and 5pm. High near 32. Northeast wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Little or no ice accumulation expected. New snow and sleet accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Thursday Night

Freezing drizzle and sleet before 3am, then sleet between 3am and 5am, then snow and sleet after 5am. Low around 29. Northeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Little or no ice accumulation expected. New snow and sleet accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Friday

Snow likely before 11am, then rain and snow likely between 11am and 1pm, then a chance of rain after 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 36. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Friday Night

A chance of snow before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.