Basking Ridge Braces For Storm, Cancels All After School Activities

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Bernards Township Public Schools has canceled all after-school activities on Tuesday in anticipation of the upcoming severe winter storm.

"Please be advised that due to the pending storm all after-school events and rentals are canceled for today. Aftercare parents must pick up children no later than 4 p.m.," said the district.

The Bernards Township Committee also canceled its scheduled meeting for Tuesday night due to the State of Emergency.

All matters are carried to the next scheduled Township Committee meeting to be held on Tuesday, Jan.23, at 8 p.m. to be held in the Warren Craft Meeting Room in the Municipal Building, 1 Collyer Lane, Basking Ridge.

All Bernards Township Offices will close at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday as well.

Somerset County also issued an alert asking residents to "avoid all unnecessary travel and adhere to all road closures if you must travel."

"There are several roads in the township that have an increased risk of flooding. Residents who live in the flood prone areas should pay close attention to the forecast and conditions. DO NOT drive through flooded roads or around barricades. The township emergency services and DPW are monitoring the storm and prepared to respond to any issues," according to Bernards Township.

Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency in the Garden State Monday afternoon ahead of a winter storm system set to bring up to four inches of rain, flooding and wind gusts up to 65 mph that could down trees and cause tens of thousands of power outages.

The winter storm begins Tuesday and continues into Wednesday. Heavy rain will fall with 1 to 3 inches expected and up to 4 inches possible in some areas.

Couple that with snow melt and moderate to major river flooding is possible.

The National Weather Service projects the Raritan River in Manville and Bound Brook, the North Branch Raritan River on the Branchburg and Bridgewater border, and the Millstone River in Blackwells Mills are all expected to hit "moderate" flood levels by Wednesday morning. Read More: Raritan, Millstone Rivers Projected To Flood Wednesday

A Flood Watch is in effect from 1 p.m. on Tuesday through 6 p.m. on Wednesday. A Wind Advisory is also in effect from 5 p.m. on Tuesday through 3 a.m. on Wednesday in Somerset County.

Here is a look at the upcoming forecast:

Tuesday: Rain, mainly after noon. The rain could be heavy at times. High near 50. Breezy, with an east wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night: Rain, mainly before 3 a.m. The rain could be heavy at times. Low around 45. Windy, with a southeast wind 25 to 30 mph becoming south 15 to 20 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Wednesday: A slight chance of showers before 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 47. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. Breezy, with a west wind 10 to 20 mph.

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