Parsippany Snow Updates

PARSIPPANY, NJ — As predicted, heavy snow has moved into the area. The snow has covered roads and is only expected to continue for several hours. Forecasters say since it is a heavy, wet snow, it could cause widespread power outages just days after Friday's storm knocked out electricity for thousands.

UPDATE, THURSDAY, MARCH 8: Click here to see up-to-date information on the storm's impact in Parsippany as of Thursday, March 8.

Here are the latest impacts the storm is having in the Parsippany area:

Power Outages

After a day of onuy 60 homes being without power, that number spiked to 5,309 homes around 3:22 p.m., before going down to 516 homes as of 3:35 p.m. JCP&L is estimating power will be back by 11:30 p.m. Wednesday night.

5:18 p.m.: JCP&L has paused power restoration efforts due to safety concerns. (See more from JCP&L below).

From Morris County Office Of Emergency Management

Current forecast data shows the peak of the storm is approaching our area. We anticipate that we will see an increased snow intensity throughout the afternoon and evening, with the peak of the storm reaching our area between NOW and 7PM.

During this time, we will likely see 1-2” per hour snowfall rates, with the potential for 2-3” per hour. In addition, current forecast data indicates that we may experience white-out conditions, with the possibility of well over 1 ft. of snow across the county with the potential of 16” in some areas.

Please continue to monitor local conditions and restrict travel to emergencies and essential travel only.

From 511NJ:

• As of 4:04pm, there's a Disabled tractor trailer on I-80 westbound ramp to southbound Exit 43 - I-287 in Parsippany-Troy Hills Twp. All lanes closed 10-15 minute delay.
• As of 4:03pm, there's an Accident on NJ 10 westbound NJ 53 in Morris Plains. All lanes closed and detoured.

Parsippany Police Department

Wednesday, 5:02 p.m.

We are going to make this short and to the point. Do not attempt to drive. We have multiple impassible roadways. We have a slew of calls that include a transformer fire, along with multiple downed wires and trees. We also have multiple disabled vehicles due to the roadways being impassible. You are risking your safety, along with the first responders and tow truck operators when they have to come and assist you. Again please stay off the roadways.Please remain inside your residence were it is safe until the storm has stopped and roadways have been cleared.

Wednesday Afternoon

The Nor'easter has arrived and we are now under a State of Emergency. While a travel ban has not been imposed, we think the next few lines are a good reason on why you should stay off the roadways.

The NOAA National Weather Service snowfall map has increased its predictions as of 4 AM with an estimate of 15 inches of accumulation in our area. During points of the storm snowfall rates could be as high as 2 inches an hour. The wind will be increasing throughout the day. During the storm you may think you can make it to your destination driving, but if you get stuck you not only endanger yourself, but the first responders coming to assist.

With this amount of snow, roads can become narrower even as the DPW plows attempt to clear the snow curb to curb. If your vehicle is parked on a snow covered roadway it will significantly hamper the efforts of the plow trucks and could even impede first responders. With that said, illegally parked vehicles during the snow storm will be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense.

If you have not seen pictures yet on social media or in the news, a small army of linemen from multiple states has already been called in to help JCP&L restore the power to its customers. They will be working through the storm as long as the winds stay below 40 mph (OSHA regulation) and they can safely navigate the roads. If your power goes out you can report it on the JCP&L FirstEnergy App, JCP&L website, or 1-888-4877 (1-888-LIGHTSS). Do not attempt to move any downed wires.

To all the first responders, plow operators, tow truck operators, utility workers, hospital employees and emergency dispatchers working today...STAY SAFE AND THANK YOU!

Township Of Parsippany-Troy Hills

Route 10 near the Powder Mill area of town has been closed due to inclement weather. We suggest that you keep travel to a minimum unless absolutely necessary. As always, stay safe and we will keep you updated.

Generator Safety:

Read more about it here, and see tips from the Lake Hiawatha Fire Department below.

JCP&L

MARCH 7 AFTERNOON UPDATE: We have a massive contingent of crews on the ground who are up to the challenge of working safely in snowy conditions so we can get our impacted customers back up and running. Additional line workers are arriving today to assist the 4,100 currently engaged.
More than 242,000 customers have been restored to service. Approximately 29,000 customers remain out of service, primarily in Hunterdon, Morris, Warren and Sussex counties. Until the full impact of today's storm is known, it is difficult to predict an overall restoration time, but local estimates will continue to be posted on our map: http://spr.ly/NJOutageMap.
We remain focused on restoring customers who have been out the longest, and will address any new outages based on our storm process, which addresses the largest outages first.
View our full update here: http://spr.ly/6185DTTQb
Thank you, thank you, thank you!

JCP&L has pledged to remain focused on restoring customers who have been out of service the longest,and will address any new outages based on its priority system that deals with the largest outages first.
JCP&L has restored power to more than 242,000 of the nearly 272,000 customers in New Jersey affected by the recent storm that inflicted widespread damage on its facilities. More than 4,100 employees and contractors – including about 1,500 line workers – are involved in the massive effort and will continue working until full restoration is achieved.

“We’re entering the most time-consuming phase of this effort – restoring individual homes to service – and inclement weather and bad roads could create more challenges,” said Jim Fakult, president of JCP&L. “But we have a massive contingent of crews on the ground who are up to the challenge of working safely in snowy conditions so we can get our impacted customers back up and running again.”

Image via Shutterstock