NJ Nor'easter Updates: Closures, Power Outages, New Snow Totals

NEW JERSEY – A “major" nor'easter hit New Jersey on Wednesday and Thursday, producing more than 12 inches of snow and rain that shut down trains and buses and was causing crashes and other problems. More than 12,000 power outages were reported across the state, and more than 200 crashes were reported.

The National Weather Service labeled the "major" system a "nor'easter" since it was expected to produce strong, sustained damaging winds and nearly 2 feet of snow and rain over a 24-hour period on Wednesday and Thursday (you can see the impacts on roadways and local towns, as well power outage information, below).

Gov. Phil Murphy addressed the public and said NJ Transit service will resume after it was shut down. He also said New Jersey was dealing with the cleanup after the storm, and he warned about black ice. Read more: WATCH: NJ Transit Service To Resume As NJ Nor'easter Winds Down

"All in all, this storm pretty much met the forecast," Murphy said.

Snowfall rates were to reach 3 inches per hour for a time on Wednesday night and Thursday morning, causing significantly reduced visibility and potentially crippling travel impacts in places. A number of school districts were either shifting to remote learning or closing completely.

More than 12 inches of snow already fell in a number of towns by Wednesday evening. Read more: New Jersey Snow Totals, Town-By-Town, For Nor'easter On Wednesday

NJ Transit trains and buses stopped service because of the storm. Read more: NJ Transit Shuts Down Buses, Trains As Snowstorm Hits

“Heavy snow and high winds are expected in many parts of the state today," said Murphy. “Safety is our top priority. We ask that residents stay off of the roads as we deploy resources to clear snow.”

The storm was exceeding expectations in some areas – particularly at the Jersey Shore, where at least 6 inches fell. Here were the snow estimates:

Read more: NJ Weather: Timing, Latest Snow Estimates For NJ Nor'easter

Here's what has happened (see road and highway impacts below):

• Murphy declared a state of emergency for New Jersey, which can trigger executive powers and safeguards such as imposing shutdowns prohibiting excessive price increases. Read more: Gov. Murphy Declares State Of Emergency For NJ Nor'easter Snow
• Murphy also expressed concern that the nor'easter snowstorm could hurt the coronavirus vaccine's delivery to New Jersey. Here's why. Read more: Gov. Murphy: Could Nor'easter Hurt COVID Vaccine's NJ Delivery?
• A commercial vehicle restriction – tractor-trailers, RVs, boats and motorcycles – was in place along interstate highways. It doesn't apply to the New Jersey Turnpike or Garden State Parkway.
• A winter storm warning was issued for Monmouth County and north. As much as 18 to 24 inches was expected to fall in North Jersey, while 8 to 12 was expected to fall in Central Jersey.
• A coastal flood warning was issued for the Jersey Shore. The National Weather Service says widespread roadway flooding could occur in coastal and bayside communities and along inland tidal waterways. Many roads could become impassable, and some damage to vulnerable structures may begin to occur.

• A wind advisory is also in effect at the Jersey Shore since 60-mph winds are expected.
• Heavy snow, mixed precipitation, and rain will affect the region. Snow amounts will be significant north and west of the I-95 corridor, though heavy snowfall has occurred across this corridor this evening.
• Very strong winds expected near the coast and over the marine zones with gusts potentially reaching 45 to 60 mph. This could result in power outages. Inland, gusts could reach as high as 30 to 40 mph, exacerbating visibility restrictions in snow.

Here were the power outages reported during the storm:

1. TOMS RIVER 2,144
2. SOUTH BRUNSWICK TWP 1,591
3. BERKELEY TOWNSHIP 1,505
4. NEPTUNE TOWNSHIP 1,127
5. SEA GIRT BOROUGH 975
6. BRICK TOWNSHIP 573
7. WOODSTOWN BORO 418
8. KEYPORT BOROUGH 353
9. LAVALLETTE BOROUGH 341
10. SEASIDE PARK BOROUGH 330
11. FRANKLIN TWP 299
12. LACEY TOWNSHIP 185
13. PEMBERTON TOWNSHIP 174
14. HANOVER TOWNSHIP 165
15. HAZLET TOWNSHIP 153
16. EATONTOWN BOROUGH 132
17. Gibbstboro 103
18. MONMOUTH BEACH BOROUGH 96
19. Galloway 88
20. SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 81
21. UNION BEACH BOROUGH 77
22. MANASQUAN BOROUGH 51
23. MANTOLOKING BOROUGH 46
24. ASBURY PARK CITY 45
25. TINTON FALLS BOROUGH 45
26. FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP 34
27. ISLAND HEIGHTS BOROUGH 33
28. MONTVILLE TOWNSHIP 27
29. HILLSBOROUGH TOWNSHIP 24
30. LITTLE SILVER BOROUGH 21
31. NORTH HANOVER TOWNSHIP 17
32. SOUTH TOMS RIVER BOROUGH 14
33. WALL TOWNSHIP 10
34. BERNARDSVILLE BOROUGH 10
35. FAR HILLS BOROUGH 7
36. MOUNT OLIVE TOWNSHIP 5
37. MONTGOMERY TWP 5

Here are road and highway impacts as of Thursday morning:

• Crash on Garden State Parkway Express Lanes southbound South of Exit 109 - CR 520 in Tinton Falls. One right lane blocked.
• Disabled vehicle on New Jersey Turnpike Inner Roadway southbound South of Interchange 8 - NJ 33 in East Windsor Twp. One Center lane blocked.
• Vehicle off the roadway on I-80 eastbound East of Exit 27 - NJ 183/US 206 in Roxbury Twp. One Left lane closed.
• Crash and an overturned vehicle on New Jersey Turnpike Inner Roadway northbound North of Interchange 7A - I-195 in Robbinsville. Right shoulder blocked.
• Crash on the New Jersey Turnpike northbound North of Interchange 4 - NJ 73 in Mt Laurel Twp. One Right lane blocked.
• Crash on I-78 westbound West of Exit 12 - CR 635/Perryville Rd in Union Twp. One right lane closed.
• Crash and a Vehicle off the roadway and a Vehicle spun out on Garden State Parkway Express Lanes southbound South of Exit 109 - CR 520 in Tinton Falls. Left shoulder blocked.
• Crash on the Garden State Parkway northbound South of Exit 138 - CR 509 in Kenilworth. Right lane and shoulder blocked.
• Crash on Garden State Parkway Local Lanes northbound South of Exit 116 - PNC Arts Center in Holmdel Twp. 1 Left lane blocked.
• Speed restriction on the New Jersey Turnpike in both directions from Delaware Memorial Bridge in Pennsville Twp to north of Interchange 3 - NJ 168 in Barrington.
• Speed restriction on the New Jersey Turnpike in both directions from Delaware Memorial Bridge in Pennsville Twp to north of Interchange 3 - NJ 168 in Barrington.
• Speed restriction on the New Jersey Turnpike in both directions from south of Interchange 6 - Pennsylvania Turnpike in Mansfield Twp to Exit 70AB - NJ 93/Leonia/Teaneck in Teaneck Twp; 35 mph for plowing operations.
• Speed restriction on the New Jersey Turnpike in both directions from north of Interchange 3 - NJ 168 in Barrington to South of Interchange 6 - Pennsylvania Turnpike in Mansfield Twp.
• Road treatment in progress on Atlantic City-Brigantine Connector southbound in the vicinity of Atlantic City Expressway in Atlantic City. All lanes open.
• Road treatment in progress on the Atlantic City Expressway westbound between East of Western Terminus - NJ 42 and Atlantic City Convention Center/Eastern Terminus in Washington Twp. All lanes open.
• Speed restriction on the New Jersey Turnpike/I-95 local and express roadways in both directions from Exit 70AB - NJ 93/Leonia/Teaneck in Ridgefield Park to George Washington Bridge Lower Level in Fort Lee; 35 mph due to plowing operations.
• Speed restriction on the Garden State Parkway all roadways in both directions from south of Exit 63A - NJ 72 East in Stafford Twp to New York State Line in Montvale.
• Downed wires on US 1 northbound north of I-287 in Edison Twp. One Left lane closed.
• Downed pole and downed wires on NJ 168 southbound north of CR 630/Collings Av in Camden. All lanes closed and detoured. Follow detour. Use caution.
• Downed pole and downed wires on NJ 168 northbound North of CR 630/Collings Av in Camden. All lanes closed and detoured. Follow detour. Use caution.
• Truck fire on I-295 southbound ramp to Exit 32 - CR 561/Haddonfield Berlin Rd in Cherry Hill Twp. Right shoulder closed and partial ramp closure. Use caution.
• Downed wires on US 1 southbound North of I-287 in Edison Twp. All lanes closed.
• Crash on the Garden State Parkway southbound south of Exit 77 - Keswick Rd in Lacey Twp. Right shoulder.
• Speed restriction on the Outerbridge Crossing in both directions; 25 miles per hour.
• Speed restriction on the Goethals Bridge in both directions; 25 miles per hour.
• Speed restriction on the Bayonne Bridge in both directions; 25 miles per hour.
• Crash on Garden State Parkway Local Lanes northbound North of Exit 114 - Red Hill Rd in Holmdel Twp.
• Downed wires on NJ 17 northbound Ridgewood Ave in Paramus. All lanes closed and detoured.
• Jack-knifed tractor trailer on I-287 northbound North of Exit 26 - CR 525/Mount Airy Rd in Bernards Twp. 2 Left lanes closed.
• Downed wires on NJ 27 northbound CR 518/Georgetown-Franklin Tpke in South Brunswick Twp. All lanes closed and detoured.
• Downed wires on NJ 27 southbound area of CR 518/Georgetown-Franklin Tpke in South Brunswick Twp. All lanes closed and detoured.
• Speed restriction on the Atlantic City Expressway westbound from Atlantic City Convention Center/Eastern Terminus to Western Terminus - NJ 42 in Atlantic City. All lanes open; speed limit reduced to 35 MPH. Use caution.
• Speed restriction on the Atlantic City Expressway eastbound from Western Terminus - NJ 42 to Atlantic City Convention Center/Eastern Terminus in Washington Twp. All lanes open; speed limit reduced to 35 MPH. Use caution.
• Delays on I-76 westbound from Exit 1A - NJ 42/I-295 to Walt Whitman Bridge in Bellmawr. All lanes open.
• Delays on NJ 42 northbound from Exit 12 - NJ 41 to I-295 in Deptford Twp. All lanes open delays due to volume.
• Delays on NJ 55 northbound approaching NJ 42 in Deptford Twp. All lanes open delays due to volume.

Here are local town impacts (we will expand this list as information comes in):

• Aberdeen
• Asbury Park
• Barnegat
• Basking Ridge
• Berkeley
• Belleville
• Belmar
• Bergen County
• Bloomfield
• Brick
• Bridgewater
• Caldwell
• Camden County
• Chatham
• Chester
• Cinnaminson
• Clark
• Cranford
• East Brunswick
• Edison
• Fanwood
• Garwood
• Gloucester County
• Gloucester Township
• Hackettstown
• Hillsborough
• Hoboken
• Hopatcong
• Howell
• Lacey
• Lawrence Township
• Livingston
• Long Branch
• Mahwah
• Manasquan
• Manchester
• Maplewood
• Marlboro
• Matawan
• Mendham
• Mercer County
• Metuchen
• Middletown
• Millburn
• Montclair
• Moorestown
• Morris County
• Morristown
• Newark
• North Caldwell
• Nutley
• Ocean City
• Parsippany
• Point Pleasant Beach
• Point Pleasant Boro
• Princeton
• Red Bank
• Ridgewood
• Scotch Plains
• South Brunswick
• Sparta
• Summit
• Toms River
• Warren
• Washington Township (Morris)
• Wayne
• West Caldwell
• Westfield
• Wyckoff

Asbury Park Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn said the city is hoping for rain but taking its usual precautions. The city is also doing maintenance on all of its equipment to make sure the plows are operational.

"Staff who are out on vacation have been notified that they may be called in if the weather is severe," she said. "We will continue to monitor conditions and begin plowing and salting as appropriate."

Monmouth County DPW crews pre-treated critical roads with liquid salt brine overnight on Tuesday, to prevent snow and ice from bonding to the road surface. As weather conditions transition to snow, road crews will be applying rock salt treated with magnesium chloride.

Reaction to the storm started to pour in on social media:

The storm was expected to be fierce enough to produce plowable snow or possible flooding and more was expected to arrive overnight and into Thursday (see the forecast below).

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 outbreak.

AccuWeather was saying the system could be the "most significant winter storm in several years," one that could potentially become highly impactful and disruptive as the first round of coronavirus vaccines continue to be shipped around the country.

AccuWeather warned of major disruptions to travel and even travel shutdowns, as well as shipping delays, school closings and power outages from this "blockbuster storm," – even though a number of New Jersey school districts have said they'll opt to go remote instead of closing.

Here is the forecast:

• Wednesday night: Rain and/or snow, then rain after midnight. The rain, snow, and/or sleet could be heavy at times. Low around 29. Windy, with an east wind 25 to 30 mph decreasing to 20 to 25 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 60 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent.
• Thursday: Snow likely, mainly before 9 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37. Breezy, with a north wind 20 to 25 mph decreasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 60 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New snow accumulation of less than a half-inch possible.