NJ Weather: 37K Lose Power, 428 Crashes In NJ Snowstorm

NEW JERSEY – A winter storm led to at least 428 motor vehicle crashes that "clobbered" some New Jersey roads and highways on Monday and Tuesday, as hundreds of schools closed and more than 37,000 lost power, state officials say (see road conditions below).

More than 12 inches fell in some areas of New Jersey by Tuesday. Enough wet snow could still down wires. Power outages were already reported in towns throughout the state (see list of towns with power outages below).

More than 200 schools closed or delayed openings for Tuesday. Read more: New Jersey School Closings/Delays/Dismissals List For Monday and Tuesday.

Gov. Phil Murphy, speaking during a midday press conference, urged drivers to use caution during their commutes since much of the snow and rain could freeze up by Tuesday morning.

"Please take it slow and use common sense and caution," Murphy said, adding that 2,100 pieces of equipment were deployed throughout the state. "If there is a big flashing light, it's the evening commute."

Patch will also keep track of the snow totals for New Jersey towns. Read more: New Jersey Snow Totals, Town-By-Town, For Sunday, Monday And Tuesday

The National Weather Service has released its estimates of snow, wind, rain and temperatures for the storm, broken down county by county. Read more: NJ Weather: Timeline, Hour-By-Hour Forecast Of NJ Snowstorm

Patch Deals: Stay Warm With These Cold-Weather Essentials — Rechargeable hand warmers, heated jackets, cozy socks and more must-haves to keep you toasty.

Flooding also hit areas that were not hit hard by snow. Read more: Part Of Long Beach Blvd. Closed Due To Flooding

Towns such as Livingston were experiencing a late surge of snow:

Hundreds of flights were canceled at Newark and other airports, and traffic was jammed on major roads. State offices closed at noon Monday.

One crash involved a truck that had violated the commercial travel ban and "clobbered" I-287, officials said, causing major delays along the highway. Murphy said he was "very displeased" by the crash. Read more: Jackknifed Truck Closed Rt. 287 Lanes In Kinnelon: DOT

Here is Murphy's press conference:

A winter storm warning was issued for Monmouth, Bergen, Passaic, Sussex, Morris, Union, Essex, Warren, Middlesex and Mercer counties. The warning was set to expire by 7 a.m. Tuesday.

A winter weather advisory, which was set to expire at 4 a.m. on Tuesday, was also issued for Ocean, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Hudson, Somerset, Mercer and Hunterdon counties.

A coastal flood advisory was also in effect in Ocean and Monmouth counties until 3 a.m. Tuesday. Here are the alerted areas:

Here are the towns with power outages:

• SPARTA TOWNSHIP 4,692
• ANDOVER TOWNSHIP 2,291
• MONTAGUE TOWNSHIP 1,713
• GREEN TOWNSHIP 1,415
• STILLWATER TOWNSHIP 1,318
• NEWTON TOWN 1,314
• BLAIRSTOWN TOWNSHIP 1,314
• FREDON TOWNSHIP 1,250
• BYRAM TOWNSHIP 1,238
• RANDOLPH TOWNSHIP 1,230
• SANDYSTON TOWNSHIP 1,148
• FRANKLIN BOROUGH 1,108
• ROCKAWAY TOWNSHIP 1,084
• VERNON TOWNSHIP 1,064
• HAMPTON TOWNSHIP 1,036
• DOVER TOWN 1,033
• HARDYSTON TOWNSHIP 989
• OGDENSBURG BOROUGH 986
• NETCONG BOROUGH 874
• FRELINGHUYSEN TOWNSHIP 827
• CHATHAM TOWNSHIP 733
• HOPE TOWNSHIP 707
• HAMBURG BOROUGH 677
• HARDWICK TOWNSHIP 620
• FRANKFORD TOWNSHIP 561
• DENVILLE TOWNSHIP 546
• WANTAGE TOWNSHIP 521
• WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP 493
• LAFAYETTE TOWNSHIP 423
• West Milford 379
• LIBERTY TOWNSHIP 378
• KNOWLTON TOWNSHIP 367
• LONG HILL TOWNSHIP 350
• ROXBURY TOWNSHIP 294
• ANDOVER BOROUGH 283
• JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP 254
• WHITE TOWNSHIP 253
• WEST MILFORD TOWNSHIP 242
• ALLAMUCHY TOWNSHIP 223
• Montague 180
• NEWARK CITY 158
• INDEPENDENCE TOWNSHIP 135
• WALPACK TOWNSHIP 126
• MOUNT OLIVE TOWNSHIP 98
• LEBANON TOWNSHIP 77
• MENDHAM TOWNSHIP 64
• CHATHAM BOROUGH 40
• HOPATCONG BOROUGH 36
• SUSSEX BOROUGH 36
• BRANCHVILLE BOROUGH 35
• HARMONY TOWNSHIP 33
• STANHOPE BOROUGH 21
• Vernon 20
• CHESTER TOWNSHIP 18
• BERNARDSVILLE BOROUGH 17
• Ringwood 17
• HACKETTSTOWN TOWN 14
• MOUNT ARLINGTON BOROUGH 12
• TEANECK TWP 10
• BELVIDERE TOWN 8
• MANSFIELD TOWNSHIP 8
• MILLSTONE TOWNSHIP 5

Here are the road conditions:

• Downed tree on NJ 94 in both directions north of CR 661/Beaver Run Rd in Hardyston Twp. All lanes closed.
• Speed restriction on the New Jersey Turnpike in both directions from North of Interchange 3 - NJ 168 in Barrington to George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee 45 miles per hour, for salting operations.
• Downed pole on US 9 southbound South of Ryan Rd/Symmes Rd in Manalapan Twp. Right lane closed use caution.

Murphy stopped short of issuing an emergency declaration but said the state is "closely monitoring" the system because the evening commute could be heavy.

The State Police said it has deployed much heavier patrols on the roads, and Murphy said brine trucks have been out on state highways for days.

Murphy recalled a storm that slammed New Jersey in November 2018 that made him the target of criticism because of his underwhelming response, adding: "We are committed to not letting that happen again."

"This storm will bring a wintry mix and significant accumulations," Murphy said. "We know the forecast can change quickly with a storm like this, so we are monitoring it quickly."

Here were the expected snow totals, which had grown since Saturday morning:

Here is the high-end prediction:

Here is the estimated ice accumulation:

Important tips to remember when preparing for winter weather:

• Be prepared. Visit ready.nj.gov for information on how to prepare for home, work and your vehicle. Have an emergency kit/go-bag for all three locations.
• Pets are family, too. Remember to include them in your emergency plans. Visit animalemergency.nj.gov to find out more.
• NEVER use a generator inside homes, garages, crawlspaces, sheds, or similar areas, even when using fans or opening doors and windows for ventilation. Deadly levels of carbon monoxide can quickly build up in these areas and can linger for hours, even after the generator has shut off.
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are working before a storm.
• Know how to report a power outage to your utility company.
• Have cash on hand. If the power is out, so are the ATMs and credit card machines.
• Charge your cell phones and try not to use them if the power goes out. Texting uses less power than a phone call, so send text messages to save power if possible.
• Be sure to keep an adequate amount of gas in your car.
• Be sure to check on friends and neighbors who have access or functional needs.
• Need a warming center? Call NJ 2-1-1 or visit www.nj211.org to get connected.
• Be sure to have extra medications on hand and keep them in a water-resistant container.
• Get all of your vital records and insurance papers together now. Keep them in a water-resistant container. If you can, scan and email them to yourself so you have a copy of important numbers and policies.
• Discuss business continuity plans now. Whether you are the boss or report to a boss, discuss your game plan for continued business operations.

Here are a few tips if you must drive during or after winter weather:

• Check 511nj.org for traffic updates before you hit the road.
• Be sure to have a full tank of gas before you start your trip.
• Follow directions from local officials.
• Take it slowly.
• Don’t crowd the plow. Give plows plenty of room to work, and never pass a snow plow on the right.
• Keep a winter weather kit in your car, containing an ice scraper, blanket, flashlight with extra batteries, bag of kitty litter, shovel and charged cell phone, as well as reflective triangles or flares, cloth or paper towels and jumper cables.