Nor’easter Impacts In Essex County: Snow, Travel Updates – Patch.com
ESSEX COUNTY, NJ – A “major” nor’easter hit the Essex County area on Monday, producing several inches of snow and causing disruptions on local roads and highways.
Here are the latest details for the snow and nor’easter that’s hitting many New Jersey towns with 50-mph winds, which could cause power outages, as well as snow, road closures and flooding. Read more: NJ Weather: Timeline, Hour-By-Hour NJ Snow, Nor’easter Forecast
Gov. Phil Murphy told people that they need to get off the roads because it’s “dangerous,” and he said roads should be clear so crews can make sure essential vehicles get through.
That would include the vehicles transporting the coronavirus vaccine.
“This is a big one,” Murphy said during his Monday news conference, telling New Jersey residents, “If you don’t need to be out, don’t go out.”
Murphy said the early afternoon will be the “teeth” of the storm and the state Department of Transportation has 3,900 pieces of equipment deployed to deal with the storm. Murphy also said the storm will likely last until Tuesday night.
The National Weather Service labeled the “major” system a “nor’easter” since it was expected to produce strong, sustained damaging winds and precipitation over a 24-hour period on Monday and into Tuesday.
Murphy closed all six of New Jersey’s COVID vaccine mega-sites on Monday, and a number of other sites have also closed. Read more: NJ COVID-19 Vaccine Sites Closing Because Of Nor’easter
The storm was expected to be fierce enough to cause power outages and more was expected to arrive overnight and into Tuesday (see the forecast below).
Here were the expected snow totals:
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.
Here is the forecast:
- Monday: Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. High near 32. Breezy, with a northeast wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New snow accumulation of 8 to 12 inches possible.
- Monday Night: Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. Low around 29. Blustery, with a north wind 15 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.
- Tuesday: Snow before 11 a.m., then rain and snow likely. High near 36. North wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
- Tuesday Night: A chance of rain and snow before 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.