NJ Deals With Blizzard's Harsh Aftermath As Deep Freeze Looms

New Jersey was battling Friday with bitter cold and the troubling aftermath of a "bomb cyclone" storm that left more than 18 inches of snow in some towns. More bad weather is expected to hit the area over the next week.

The storm didn't come without tragedy as people stayed in their homes to protect themselves from sub-zero temperatures. More bitter cold is forecast to spread from the central United States to New Jersey within the next four days, and snow could fall in the region on Monday (see forecast below).

In Perth Amboy, a 13-year-old girl died and at least 41 others were injured by carbon monoxide poisoning on Thursday in New Jersey, police said. Three relatives of the 13-year-old girl – a man in his 40s, a 21-year-old woman and a 14-year-old girl – remain in critical condition after the exposure. Read more here...

A Jersey City police officer also was struck and killed by a car on the New Jersey Turnpike early Friday morning. Lt. Chris Robateau had exited his car to help another driver when he was struck, Mayor Steven Fulop said in a tweet.

"We consider him on duty in JC being that he was looking to help someone which is what we want all JC officers to do all the time," Fulop said. Read more here...

The storm was bad enough to close schools, or delay openings, in hundreds of towns across the state for a second day. Read more: How to Prevent Your Pipes From Freezing As Temps Drop

The State Police, meanwhile, have responded to 348 motor vehicle crashes and 783 motorist aids since Thursday morning. Aids can be anything from spinouts, flat tires and mechanical breakdowns.

Winds that reached 55 mph in some parts of the state, making matters worse for firefighters who battled a number of blazes throughout the state.

Hundreds of people were without power Friday in Newark as firefighters battled two 3-alarm fires and a 2-alarm fire, with reports of two firefighters treated for minor injuries.

The first fire, at 39 Milford Avenue, was reported at approximately 11:46 p.m. The fire was escalated to 3-alarms after it spread to several nearby structures, Newark police said. Ten people, including six adults and four children, required assistance from 44 Milford Avenue.

Violent winds also toppled a Delta gas station roof in Garfield Thursday. The roof swayed back and forth and dangled over the gas pumps for a while before finally toppling. Read more here...

A hazardous weather outlook and wind chill advisory, meanwhile, is in effect throughout the state as temperatures are expected to drop back down into the single digits and below-zero. More snow and an icy mix is expected on Monday, though details were sketchy at press time.

Here is the forecast:

• Friday: Areas of blowing snow. Mostly sunny, with a high near 11. Wind chill values as low as -10. Breezy, with a west wind 18 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph.
• Friday night: Areas of blowing snow. Mostly clear, with a low around -1. Wind chill values as low as -19. West wind around 17 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.
• Saturday: Areas of blowing snow. Sunny and cold, with a high near 6. Wind chill values as low as -19. Northwest wind 14 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
• Saturday night: Areas of blowing snow before 8pm. Mostly clear, with a low around -5. Wind chill values as low as -16. Northwest wind 6 to 14 mph.
• Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 18. Southwest wind 3 to 5 mph.
• Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 9.
• Monday: A chance of snow after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 31. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
• Monday night: Snow likely, mainly after 8pm. Cloudy, with a low around 27. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Here are some of the accidents that took place on the icy roads on Friday:

• Pedestrian accident: New Jersey Turnpike northbound south of Interchange 14 - I-78/US 1&9 in Newark. Right lane and shoulder closed.
• Overturned tractor trailer: I-80 local lanes westbound east of Exit 45 - CR 637/Beverwyck Rd in Parsippany-Troy Hills Twp. Right shoulder closed.
• Accident: Garden State Parkway express lanes southbound north of Garden State Parkway - Cheesequake Service Area in Sayreville. Left lane blocked.
• Accident: I-287 southbound Exit 37 - NJ 24 in Hanover Twp. Partial ramp closed; 10 minute delay.
• Earlier Incident Earlier Incident I-287 As of 9:43am, there are Delays and an Earlier Incident on I-287 southbound between South of Exit 41 - I-80 in Parsippany-Troy Hills Twp and North of Exit 37 - NJ 24 in Hanover Twp 10 minute delay.
• Overturned vehicle, traffic signal down: NJ 35 southbound CR 20/Old Bridge Rd in Wall Twp. All lanes closed and detoured; use caution.

Here are some of the other incidents that happened overnight:

Also Watch: Crazy Snow Totals From the Bomb Cyclone

State Police photo of Turnpike in Bordentown