Another Winter Storm In Long Valley: Here’s What’s Happening

LONG VALLEY, NJ – Officials are warning residents to avoid travel Thursday as a winter storm is expected to produce several inches of snow, ice or freezing rain.

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

In a Facebook post Thursday morning, Long Valley Matt Murello said DPW crews started plowing around 6 a.m. and while road conditions were good as of 10 a.m., they were expected to get worse.

"If you have to travel, do it this morning and drive slow and safe," Murello said in the post.

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.

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.

Patch will provide town-by-town snow totals. Read more: Who Got The Most Snow? NJ Town-By-Town Snow Totals

Vaccine impacts

The Morris County Regional COVID-19 Vaccination Center in Rockaway Township and the Morris County COVID-19 Testing Center at the County College of Morris (CCM) will both be closed on Thursday due to inclement weather.

All vaccination appointments scheduled for Thursday at the Regional COVID-19 Vaccination Center at the Rockaway Townsquare Mall are rescheduled to Saturday, Feb. 20, and individuals will be able to receive their vaccinations at the same time of their original Thursday appointment.

Everyone who had an appointment for a COVID-19 test on Thursday at the testing center at CCM is urged to reschedule their appointment by going to https://booknow.appointment-plus.com/b8hq2y7k/

Gov. Phil Murphy said the winter weather is causing COVID vaccine "supply chain issues" and that anticipated deliveries will be delayed. He also said three vaccine mega-centers will close on Thursday: Morris, Middlesex and Burlington. Bergen County's center will close at 10 a.m. Read more here.

Snow totals:

The National Weather Service is tracking snow totals in the area. As of 1 p.m. Thursday, the snow totals in Morris County are as follows:

• 2 NNE Brookside 3.8
• Marcella 3.5 in
• Lake Hopatcong 3.2 in
• Randolph 3.0 in

Here are the expected snow totals:

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 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.

Here is the forecast:

Thursday: Snow, mainly after 7 a.m. High near 27. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Thursday Night: Snow. Low around 24. Northeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Friday: Snow likely before 3pm, then a chance of rain and snow. Cloudy, with a high near 34. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

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