Winter Storm Impacts In Ocean City: Here’s What’s Happening

OCEAN CITY, NJ — The winter storm was expected to continue to impact the Ocean City area on Thursday, and it’s expected to produce more of a mix of snow, ice and freezing rain. Flooding is also possible (see forecast, road impacts and expected totals below).

The storm could be a combined snow and ice storm, one that could knock down wires and cause power outages, according to the National Weather Service.

Gov. Phil Murphy was to speak at 9 a.m. on Thursday and address the winter snowstorm and the impact it's having on roads and COVID. Read more: WATCH LIVE: Gov. Murphy Issues NJ Winter Snowstorm Update

Patch will provide town-by-town snow totals. Read more: Who Got The Most Snow? NJ Town-By-Town Snow Totals

The latest updates show that more snow than expected will fall in Central Jersey, South Jersey and the Jersey Shore, although those areas could also get a significant amount of sleet, freezing rain and ice that could make a mess of roads.

Here are the expected snow totals in New Jersey:

Road impacts:

A speed restriction was imposed on the Garden State Parkway in both directions from Southern Terminus/CR 109 in Cape May to Exit 41 - CR561/Jimmie Leeds Road in Galloway Twp: 45 miles per hour due to roadway conditions.

A speed restriction was imposed on the New Jersey Turnpike in both directions from North of Interchange 7A - I-195 in Robbinsville to North of Interchange 8A - NJ 32 in South Brunswick Twp: 45 miles per hour for Salting Operation.

New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti has issued a commercial vehicle travel restriction on multiple Interstate highways in New Jersey starting at 4 a.m., Thursday, February 18 based on the forecast for heavy snow.

Snow was hitting overnight before the morning commute, with periods of heavy snow forecast during the day. Precipitation is expected to continue through the afternoon commute and into Friday. The travel restrictions are being coordinated with neighboring states.

In addition to the commercial restrictions, all motorists are strongly encouraged to stay off the roads on Thursday. The safest place to be is at home.

The commercial vehicle travel restriction will begin at 4 a.m., Thursday, February 18 and will be in place until further notice for the following highways in both directions:

· I-78, from the Pennsylvania border to I-95 (New Jersey Turnpike)

· I-80, from the Pennsylvania border to I-95 (New Jersey Turnpike)

· I-195, from I-295 to NJ Route 138

· I-280, from I-80 to I-95 (New Jersey Turnpike)

· I-287, from NJ Route 440 to the New York State border

· I-295, from Exit 60 (I-195) north to the Scudders Falls Bridge (Pennsylvania border)

· NJ Route 440, from the Outerbridge Crossing to I-287

The commercial vehicle travel restriction applies to:

· All tractor trailers (exceptions as listed in the Administrative Order)

· Empty straight CDL-weighted trucks

· Passenger vehicles pulling trailers

· Recreational vehicles

· Motorcycles

This restriction DOES NOT apply to:

· The New Jersey Turnpike

· The Garden State Parkway

· The Atlantic City Expressway

· I-76

· I-676

· Public safety vehicles, sworn and civilian public safety personnel; as well as other personnel directly supporting healthcare facilities or critical infrastructure such as providing fuel or food. For a complete list of operations or personnel that are exempt from the travel ban, see the Administrative Order.

Trucks that are already in New Jersey when the travel restrictions go into place are encouraged to pull off in truck stops to wait out the storm – DO NOT PARK ON SHOULDERS.

Here is the forecast in Ocean City:

Thursday: Snow before 8am, then snow and sleet between 8am and 10am, then rain after 10am. High near 37. Breezy, with a northeast wind 10 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New snow and sleet accumulation of around an inch possible.

Thursday night: Rain. Low around 34. Breezy, with a northeast wind 15 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday: Rain and snow likely, becoming all rain after 8am. Cloudy, with a high near 39. North wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Friday night: A chance of rain and snow before 11pm, then a chance of snow between 11pm and 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

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