Nor’easter Forecast In Maplewood: What To Expect

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — A nor'easter is expected to impact Maplewood starting late Wednesday afternoon, producing plowable snow or heavy rain and packing 35 to 55-mph winds.

The National Weather Service is now labeling the "major" system a "nor'easter" since it's expected to produce strong, sustained damaging winds and precipitation over a 24-hour period on Wednesday.

Forecast and information specifically for Maplewood

The Accuweather forecast specifically for Maplewood is here. Note that initial totals reflect what will fall in the afternoon; subsequent numbers reflect what will be added overnight into Thursday.

The forecast calls for snow to begin around 4 p.m., accumulating 1-3 inches in the afternoon and as much as an additional 4-8 inches overnight and into Thursday morning.

Township information

The town listed preparedness and emergency information on Tuesday night. Read the full message here.

In part:

• "The Township of Maplewood is preparing for Wednesday's winter storm and would like to inform residents on how they can prepare and direct them to important services that will be available to them. An emergency declaration will go into effect Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2020 at 12 pm. WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM WEDNESDAY TO 1 PM EST THURSDAY. Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 12 to 16 inches. Winds gusting as high as 45 mph.
• The Maplewood PD’s emergency phone number is 973-762-1234. There is no overnight parking on snow covered streets, and we ask residents to move their vehicles as to not impede snow removal operations throughout the storm.
• "From the Maplewood Fire Department: Winter storms can often hide fire hydrants under a mountain of snow making them impossible to find quickly. The Maplewood Fire Department would like to remind residents to please 'Adopt-a-Hydrant' and shovel in front of and around the fire hydrant closest to your home so that firefighters can see and access it."
• Read about what PSE&G is doing and more about storm preparation here or at https://nj.pseg.com/safetyandreliability/stormsafety.

Statewide forecast

Forecasters said Tuesday that statewide, the storm will be fierce enough to knock down power lines and cause power outages and other damage, packing gale-force winds as strong as 35 to 55 mph across the state between 7 a.m. on Wednesday and 7 a.m. on Thursday.

Here are expected snow totals:

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 is 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 is warning 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.

This is the general forecast for New Jersey, as of Tuesday:

• Wednesday: Snow and/or rain, mainly after 1 p.m. High near 28. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.
• Wednesday night: Snow and/or rain. The snow could be heavy at times. Low around 22. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New snow accumulation of two to 14 inches possible.
• Thursday: A chance of snow before 8 a.m., then a chance of snow showers, mainly between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 29. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.
• Thursday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16.

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 is 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 is warning 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.

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