Nor’easter Brings Wind, Whiteout, Heavy Snowfall To Jefferson

JEFFERSON, NJ - A major winter storm is tearing through New Jersey and will continue to cause disruptions through Tuesday, according to officials. Here's how it's impacting Jefferson so far.

Snowfall

Forecasters projected upwards of two feet of snow in Morris County throughout the storm. 24 inches of snow fell in the county, according to a measurement at 5 p.m. Monday. According to the National Weather Service, that's one of New Jersey's highest snowfalls.

Here's the NWS forecast for the area as of Monday:

• Monday Night: Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. Low around 27. Blustery, with a north wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.
• Tuesday: Snow likely. Cloudy, with a high near 33. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
• Tuesday Night: A chance of snow showers before 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 24. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

As of 2:30 p.m., radar and spotter reports indicate an intense band of snow continues across much of eastern Pennsylvania to northern New Jersey. Snowfall rates of 1 to 3 inches per hour are common within the core of this band. The motion of this band should gradually shift west and or northward through the remainder of the afternoon and possibly weaken some.

The ongoing intense snowfall rates combined with gusty winds are significantly reducing the visibilities to one quarter mile or less. This is resulting in dangerous traveling conditions, and therefore travel is not recommended across the areas being significantly impacted by this intense snowfall.

Governor 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 Monday afternoon was 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.

Closures

The winter weather also closed down the County College of Morris COVID-19 testing site as well as the COVID-19 vaccine "mega site" at the former Sears location at the Rockaway Mall. Both sites are expected to be up and running on Wednesday.

Outages

So far, so good. Jersey Central Power & Light hasn't reported any active outages as of 11 a.m. Monday in Chatham. But residents can report outages to JCP&L by calling 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877), going online or texting OUT to 544487.

Official remind residents to reserve calling 911 for emergency situations.

Generators can be a lifesaver during power outages, but such devices can also be dangerous if used or installed improperly, officials noted. Never use a portable generator inside the house or a closed garage. Also, do not use gas stoves, kerosene heaters, or other open flame heat sources to keep warm. These sources of heat can cause deadly carbon monoxide gas to build up in your home, officials said.

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