Latest Snow, Forecast Updates In Holmdel And Hazlet

HOLMDEL-HAZLET, NJ - Several inches of snow has already fallen in Holmdel and Hazlet - with more expected Thursday night into Friday - as yet another water storm impacts the Garden State. Local authorities are warning residents to steer clear of the roads unless absolutely necessary, as well as to remove vehicles and sports equipment from roads to allow for snow plows to move through (see road impacts, forecast and snow total estimates below).

While the initial forecast anticipated 3 to 6 inches of snow to fall in Monmouth County on Thursday, the National Weather Service has already reporting up to nine inches of snow in some parts of the county, including Colts Neck and Freehold. The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory Thursday in 21 counties, saying mixed precipitation is expected and additional snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches and ice accumulations of around a one-tenth-of-an-inch are possible.

Thursday morning saw light snowfall turn into icy rain, a dangerous mixture that county snow plows are now working to "catch up" with, Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden told News12."We've had very few accidents," he said.

Snow is expected to spread the area into Thursday night at varying intensity. Some sleet may mix in Thursday evening, mainly closer to the I-95 corridor. Light wintry precipitation will likely continue into the daytime hours on Friday. The bulk of the accumulating snow still looks to occur Thursday into Thursday night, with some lighter wintry precipitation lingering into Friday.

Here are the latest snow totals in Monmouth County, per the National Weather Service:

• Colts Neck: 9.8 inches
• Freehold: 9.5 inches
• Lincroft: 9.5 inches
• Eatontown: 8.5 inches
• Wanamassa: 7.6 inches
• Spring Lake Heights: 7.6 inches
• Middletown: 7.5 inches
• Manalapan: 7.5 inches
• Morganville: 7 inches
• Holmdel: 6 inches
• Howell: 3.7 inches

Several Monmouth County school districts have deemed Friday an all-remote learning day, including Freehold Regional, Freehold Township, Howell, Marlboro and Red Bank Borough.

The Holmdel Park sled hill is open on Feb. 18 and 19 until 7 p.m., conditions permitting. The Thompson Park Ski Hut is closed Feb. 18 and will reopen Feb. 19.

Here is the latest forecast for Monmouth County:

Thursday night: Snow and sleet before 1 a.m., then snow likely between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m., then snow and sleet likely after 2 a.m. Low around 27. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New snow and sleet accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Friday: Snow and sleet likely before 10 a.m., then rain and snow. High near 33. Northeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New snow and sleet accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Friday Night: A chance of rain and snow before 7 p.m. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 25. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Road Impacts:

A winter storm watch was issued for western Monmouth County early Wednesday morning. It will remain in effect until Friday afternoon, 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.
Monmouth County officials said Wednesday that up to 250 trucks and equipment may be deployed for salt spreading and plowing. "If you must be on the roads, please exercise caution and if you come across plows and sand trucks, make sure to give them room to do their work," said Commissioner Director Arnone.

The county has 30,000 tons of treated salt and 130,000 gallons of salt brine. The salt brine and pre-application of treated rock salt prevent the snow and ice from bonding to the roads.

"The county's Emergency Operations Center is open and we are monitoring the storm's progress," said Arnone. "Our process helps us manage the personnel needed at the county's ten highway districts and dispatch crews as needed. The county has already pretreated all county roads and building complexes as well as assisted with municipalities in Shared Service agreements."
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.
In Monmouth County, commercial vehicle restrictions are in place on I-95 westbound from Exit 35 - NJ 34 in Wall Township to East of I-295 in Hamilton Township.

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.