Nor'easter Storm Forecast In Newark: What To Expect (UPDATED)

This article was updated at 10 a.m. on Dec. 16.

NEWARK, NJ — A “major" nor'easter is expected to impact Newark on Wednesday, 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.

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, forecasters said. READ MORE: Nor'easter Winter Storm Watch Expands To 17 Counties

In Newark, public safety officials asked downtown businesses to consider closing by noon on Wednesday due to the forecast.

Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said the request was being made to help workers exit the downtown area in a timely manner and get safely home.

Residents can report any non-emergency weather related issues to Newark police at 973-733-6000. For emergencies, including downed wires and trees, dial 911.

Newark safety officials also asked residents to pay attention to local "no parking on snow covered roads" rules.

"Drivers are advised to use their driveways to park or to park their vehicles in the nearest Newark Board of Education property," officials said.

In addition, the following areas should be avoided due to the potential of floods, officials said:

• Clay Street and McCarter Highway
• South Street and Van Buren Street
• Jefferson and Chestnut Streets
• State Street near Broad Street
• Jabez and Backus Streets
• 357 Wilson Avenue
• Manufacturers Place and Hyatt Street
• Magazine Street and Avenue L
• Magazine Street and Amsterdam Street
• Raymond Boulevard and Blanchard Street
• Avenue L and Wilson Avenue
• Wilson Avenue and Avenue K
• Mary Street and Avenue L
• Ferry and Foundry Streets
• Hyatt Avenue and Wilson Avenue
• South Street and Adams Street
• South Street and Pulaski Street
• South Street and Pacific Street
• South Street and Dawson Street
• Pacific Street and Calumet Street
• Pulaski Street and Clifford Street
• Jefferson Street ad Clifford Street
• Van Buren Street and Clifford Street
• Foundry Street and Roanoke Avenue
• Foundry Street and Avenue P
• Norfolk Street
• Orange Street
• Nesbitt Street
• McClellan Street and Runiak Avenue
• McClellan Street and Frelinghuysen Avenue
• Frelinghuysen Avenue and Peddie Street
• Frelinghuysen Avenue and Noble Street
• Noble Street and Meeker Avenue
• Elizabeth Avenue and Meeker Avenue
• Martin Luther King Blvd. and State Street
• Martin Luther King Blvd. and Orange Street, and
• Frelinghuysen Avenue and the Route 22 underpass

City officials are activating a “Code Blue” for Wednesday December 16, to Friday, December 18. “Code Blue” is called when temperatures reach 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or lower without precipitation, 32 degrees Fahrenheit or lower with precipitation, or a wind chill factor of 0 degrees or lower.

"I urge our residents to take precautions to keep their homes safe and to be warm when they are out, and to check on their neighbors, especially the disabled, children, and the elderly,” Mayor Ras Baraka said.

There are emergency shelters operating during the extreme cold weather that have partnered with the city to provide overnight sheltering. For more information about sheltering services, contact the shelters listed below or the Department of Health and Community Wellness, Division of Social Services at (973) 877- 9494, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Live on a county-maintained road in Newark? Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. and Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura asked that residents refrain from parking on those streets from Wednesday to Thursday.

The pair of officials stated:

“Keeping the roads open will make it easier to remove snow and enable public works crews to plow from curb to curb. Weather forecasts indicate a significant snowstorm will arrive Wednesday afternoon and continue through Thursday morning. The heavy snow may cause tree limbs and electrical to break.”

DiVincenzo and Fontoura warned residents to not touch live wires or drive near them.

ACROSS NEW JERSEY

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.

Their weather forecast includes:

• 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.

This article contains reporting by Tom Davis, Patch staff

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