Winter Storm Impacts In Hoboken: Here’s What’s Happening

HOBOKEN, NJ — A winter storm was expected to impact Hoboken both Thursday and Friday, and it’s expected to produce several inches of snow or freezing rain. Flooding is a possibility.

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

The city said there will be changes to parking, certain coronavirus vaccine appointments, and more:

• Schools: Hoboken schools will be remote on Thursday.
• Parking and roads: The city started pre-treating streets with brine, a form of saltwater, on Wednesday. People were asked to move their cars from snow emergency routes by 1 a.m. Thursday, and street sweeping was suspended (more on that here: Hoboken Drivers: Move Your Cars.)
• Coronavirus testing: COVID-19 testing through the City’s partnership with Riverside Medical Group and Prompt MD was postponed for Thursday. Those with appointments with Riverside can reschedule for Friday, and those with appointments with Prompt MD can show up for the same time on Friday or Monday without having to reschedule, with the exception of those signed up between 2 and 2:45 p.m. (Prompt MD’s testing ends at 2 p.m. on Friday). Full COVID-19 testing schedule: http://www.hobokennj.gov/testing
• Coronavirus vaccines: Vaccine appointments through the Hoboken Health Department at Hoboken University Medical Center are postponed on Thursday. The city will reach out to those who had an appointment to reschedule to a later date.

Predictions

Statewide, 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.

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 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 for Essex, Hudson, Bergen, Union and Passaic counties:

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:

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.

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.

Expected totals in Hoboken

For Hoboken, the National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for two days, starting Thursday at 4 a.m. through Friday at 7 p.m. They predict:

• Thursday: Snow. High near 31. Wind chill values between 15 and 20. Northeast wind 8 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.
• Thursday Night: Snow. Low around 28. Wind chill values between 20 and 25. Northeast wind around 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
• Friday: Snow, mainly before 3 p.m. High near 33. Wind chill values between 20 and 30. Northeast wind 6 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

The National Weather Service issued a briefing calling it a "long duration snowfall" starting Thursday.

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