With Snow Storm Approaching, Burlington County Enacts Code Blue

BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ — With a winter storm expected to pound South Jersey later this week, Burlington County has enacted a Code Blue Weather Emergency. The Code Blue will be in effect from 7 p.m. Monday night until 7 a.m. Saturday morning, officials announced on Monday.

Three to four inches of snow is expected in the region between 6 a.m. Wednesday and noon Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. Winds of between 35 and 50 mph are also expected.

The cold weather will see temperatures in the low 20s and below, later in the week, according to the National Weather Service. A Code Blue declaration is made in Burlington County when frigid weather conditions pose a threat of serious harm or death to individuals without shelter. During the declaration, the county provides for short-term sheltering in clean, safe locations.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, people will also be sheltered in separate rooms to guard against the spread of coronavirus. Residents in need of shelter are encouraged to call 211 for assistance.

“Temperatures are dropping, so we’re encouraging all those in need of help to reach out,” Burlington County Director Felicia Hopson said. “Our Code Blue sheltering program is ready, and we don’t want anyone to have to spend the night outdoors or in unsafe conditions, especially with the coronavirus still active.”

The combination of gusty winds, significant snow, and high moisture content of the snow will have the potential to cause power outages and will likely impact at least the afternoon commute, according to the National Weather Service.

AccuWeather went so far as to say that the Wednesday storm could produce "blizzard" conditions, calling it the "next major winter storm for the United States" that will bring "a large swath of drenching rain, deep snow and perhaps even a thick glaze of ice for some."

Forecasters are becoming increasingly confident that the storm will intensify and produce a swath of particularly heavy snow that will clog roads and cause difficult travel, according to AccuWeather. Read more here: NJ Weather: Winter Storm Watch In 12 NJ Counties; 50-MPH Winds

For general cold weather precautions, check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention webpage at https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/index.html.

With reporting by Tom Davis, Patch Staff