Nor’easter Impacts In Monmouth County: Snow, Travel Updates

MONMOUTH COUNTY – A “major" nor'easter hit the Monmouth County area on Monday, producing snow and sleet accumulations of 7 to 14 inches and ice accumulations and winds gusts as high as 45 mph.

Here are the latest details for the snow and nor'easter that's hitting many New Jersey towns with 50-mph winds, which could cause power outages, as well as snow, road closures and flooding. Read more: NJ Weather: Timeline, Hour-By-Hour NJ Snow, Nor'easter Forecast

Gov. Phil Murphy told people that they need to get off the roads because it's "dangerous," and he said roads should be clear so crews can make sure essential vehicles get through.

That would include the vehicles transporting the coronavirus vaccine.

"This is a big one," Murphy said during his Monday news conference, telling New Jersey residents, "If you don't need to be out, don't go out."

Murphy said the early afternoon will be the "teeth" of the storm and the state Department of Transportation has 3,900 pieces of equipment deployed to deal with the storm. Murphy also said the storm will likely last until Tuesday night.

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

Murphy declared a state of emergency, suspended trains and buses and restricted travel on highways. Patch is providing regular updates on the details as well as school closings. Read more: NJ Weather: State Of Emergency, Snow Estimates For NJ Nor'easter

Patch also is providing regular updates on local power outages and snow totals. Read more: Who Got The Most Snow? NJ Town-By-Town Nor'easter Snow Totals

Murphy closed all six of New Jersey's COVID vaccine mega-sites on Monday, and a number of other sites have also closed. Read more: NJ COVID-19 Vaccine Sites Closing Because Of Nor'easter

The storm was expected to be fierce enough to cause power outages and more was expected to arrive overnight and into Tuesday (see the forecast below).

On Sunday, the Monmouth County Board of Commissioners issued the following statement regarding the storm:

“My fellow Commissioners and I advise anyone who needs to travel during this storm to proceed with caution and allow for extra time to get where they are going as roadways will be slippery,” said Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone, liaison to the Monmouth County Department of Public Works and Engineering. “The County has the ability to put 250 trucks and equipment in operation, first spreading liquid salt brine on County roads to prepare and then applying rock salt treated with magnesium chloride. If you come across County snow and ice control trucks and equipment, make sure to give them room to do their work.”

The county has treated roads with salt brine and magnesium chloride-treated rock salt, an application process of treated rock salt that prevents the snow and ice from bonding to the roads.

Here were the 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.

Here is the forecast:

Sunday night: Snow. with low temperatures around 27. A northeast wind 15 to 20 mph with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. Total nighttime snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches possible.

Monday: Snow before 4 p.m., then rain and snow between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., and snow after 5 p.m. High temperatures near 34. A northeast wind around 25 mph with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New snow accumulation of 7 to 11 inches possible.

Monday night: Rain and snow, becoming all snow after 7 p.m. Low temperatures around 30. A north wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. Possible new snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches.

Tuesday: Snow with high temperatures near 34. A north wind 15 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Tuesday night: A chance of flurries before 1am. Cloudy, with low temperatures around 28. Northwest winds around 15 mph.