Winter Storm Impacts In Mahwah: Here's What's Happening

This story was updated at 9:34 a.m.

MAHWAH, NJ — A winter storm was expected to continue to impact the Mahwah area on Thursday, and it’s expected to produce several inches of snow, ice or freezing rain (see forecast, road impacts and expected snow totals below).

The storm is expected to impact roads and could down power lines and cause power outages

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.

Gov. Phil Murphy was to speak at 9 a.m. on Thursday and address the winter snowstorm and the impact it's having on roads and COVID. Read more: WATCH LIVE: Gov. Murphy Issues NJ Winter Snowstorm Update

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

Public schools will be closed Thursday ahead of the start of the storm, which could bring up to four inches of snow in the area. No decision has been made for Friday classes. Read more: Mahwah Schools Close Thursday Ahead Of Winter Weather

Mahwah officials have postponed garbage and recycling collection for Thursday.

Vaccine appointments at Bergen New Bridge have been canceled due to a shipping delay caused by winter weather across the country, County Executive Jim Tedesco announced.

County-sponsored testing at Bergen Community College has been canceled Thursday ahead of the local storm, Tedesco said.

Read more: Winter Weather Delays Bergen Vaccine Shipment: County Executive

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:

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.

Here is the forecast:

Thursday

Snow, mainly after 11am. High near 28. Wind chill values between 15 and 20. Northeast wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Thursday Night

Snow before 10pm, then snow and sleet. Low around 28. Wind chill values between 20 and 25. Northeast wind 11 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow and sleet accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Friday

Snow and sleet likely, becoming all snow after 10am. Cloudy, with a high near 33. Northeast wind 7 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow and sleet accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Friday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25.