Winter Storm Impacts In Union County: Here’s What’s Happening

UNION COUNTY, NJ — A winter storm was expected to continue to impact Union County on both Thursday and Friday, and it’s expected to produce several inches of snow or freezing rain.

The storm is expected to impact roads and could down power lines and cause power outages (see road impacts, latest estimated snow totals and forecast below).

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

School and coronavirus vaccine site closings

In Union County, several public school districts went remote for Thursday, including: Berkeley Heights, Clark, Cranford, New Providence, Scotch Plains-Fanwood, Springfield, Summit, and Westfield.

Kean University closed for Thursday and Union County College said it would be remote.

The vaccine center in Downs Hall at Kean University announced it would be closed Thursday. Read More: Union County Closes COVID Vaccine Center Thursday Due To Snow

Predictions

The National Weather Service issued winter storm alerts across New Jersey, saying that snow and sleet accumulations could bring anywhere from 3 to 8 inches across the state.

More than 1 inch an hour could fall between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Thursday.

"God knows we're getting another storm," Gov. Phil Murphy said.

State officials said they’re concerned about the storm’s impact on vaccination distribution. The Burlington and Morris mega-sites will close on Thursday. Read more: NJ Extends COVID Emergency, Citing Need To Boost Vaccines

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.

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.

Here were the expected snow totals for Essex, Hudson, Bergen, Union and Passaic counties:

State officials said they have several hundred pieces of road equipment available to make the roads safe, even though fewer people are taking to the roads because of the coronavirus.

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.

State officials said they have several hundred pieces of road equipment available to make the roads safe, even though fewer people are taking to the roads because of the coronavirus.

Predictions for Union County, both days

For Union County, the National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for Thursday at 4 a.m. through Friday at 7 p.m. They predict:

• Thursday: Snow, mainly after 8 a.m. High near 28. Wind chill values between 15 and 20. Northeast wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.
• Thursday Night: Snow before 9pm, then snow and sleet. Low around 28. Wind chill values between 15 and 20. Northeast wind 10 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow and sleet accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
• Friday: Snow and sleet likely, becoming all snow after 9 a.m. Cloudy, with a high near 33. Wind chill values between 20 and 25. Northeast wind 7 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New snow and sleet accumulation of less than one inch possible.

The National Weather Service issued a briefing calling it a "long duration snowfall" starting Thursday.

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