School Closures Issued As 12 NJ Counties Face Ice, Freezing Rain Threat

NEW JERSEY — Twelve counties in the Garden State are under a winter weather advisory as rain, ice and freezing rain threaten power outages, travel delays and localized flooding Friday, forecasters said.

School districts such as Ramapo Indian Hills Regional, Englewood and Ridgefield have already announced a snow day for Friday. Other districts, including Belleville, Montclair and Nutley, will be dismissing students and staff early. Read more: Early Dismissal For Summit Schools Due To Icy Weather Conditions

Here are the counties under the winter weather advisory, in effect through Friday evening:

• Sussex
• Hunterdon
• Somerset
• Morris
• Warren
• Middlesex
• Mercer
• Union
• Essex
• Passaic
• Hudson
• Bergen

Friday will start with steady rain over the region, transitioning to freezing rain along/north of Interstate 80 before noon. Freezing rain is expected to travel down to Central Jersey around midday and into later Friday evening. Power outages are possible along and north of I-80, the agency said.

Localized minor flooding is also possible. Standing water on roads and walkways will freeze overnight as temperatures drop into the 20s and teens.

Up to four-tenths of an inch of ice, as well as light snowfall and sleet, are also expected to come to North Jersey, although little to no accumulation is expected.

“A few tree limbs could fall due to the ice which may result in isolated power outages. Be prepared for slippery conditions on area roads, especially bridges and overpasses, and walkways,” the National Weather Service said.

“Any wet untreated surfaces will quickly become icy.”

Over 250 flights out of New Jersey have been canceled in the last 24 hours, according to FlightAware. A commercial vehicle ban is also in effect on several interstate highways, including:

• I-78, entire length from the Pennsylvania border to I-95 (New Jersey Turnpike)
• I-80, entire length from the Pennsylvania border to I-95 (New Jersey Turnpike)
• I-195, entire length from I-295 to NJ Route 138
• I-280, entire length from I-80 to I-95 (New Jersey Turnpike)
• I-287, entire length from NJ Route 440 to the New York State border
• I-295, from I-195 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
• Empty straight CDL-weighted trucks
• Passenger vehicles pulling trailers
• Recreational vehicles
• Motorcycles

Here’s the latest forecast:

North Jersey

Friday: Rain or freezing rain before 4 p.m., then a chance of freezing rain and sleet. Patchy fog before 10 a.m. Temperature falling to around 28 by 4 p.m. Wind chill values between 20 and 30. North wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent.

Friday night: A chance of freezing rain and sleet, mainly before 7 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. Wind chill values between 10 and 15. North wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Saturday: Partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 27. Wind chill values between 10 and 15. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Saturday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 13. North wind 3 to 8 mph.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 31. Calm wind becoming south around 6 mph in the afternoon.

Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 24.

Central Jersey

Friday: Periods of rain, mainly before 5 p.m. Temperature falling to around 34 by 4 p.m. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch are possible.

Friday night: A chance of rain before 7 p.m. Cloudy, with a low around 24. North wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch are possible.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 29. Blustery, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph.

Saturday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 16. North wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 34. North wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.

Sunday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27.

South Jersey

Friday: Periods of rain, mainly before 5 p.m. Temperature falling to around 33 by 5 p.m. West wind 10 to 15 mph becoming north in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch are possible.

Friday night: A chance of rain before 7 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23. North wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch are possible.

Saturday: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 29. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Saturday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 15. North wind 5 to 10 mph.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 35. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.

Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 23.