Bernards Schools Ask Parents To Prepare For Possible Closure Due To Snow

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Bernards Township should be prepared for a possible school closure on Friday, the school district warned on Thursday night.

"Given the weather forecast, we may need to close school on Friday, Jan. 19 or possibly have an early dismissal. No decision has been made at this time," said the district.

Parents are asked to prepare for both possibilities and make a safe plan with their family using the weather guide here.

The district will send out another alert by 5:45 a.m. with a decision.

Snowfall is slated to begin around 4 to 7 a.m. Friday, with the steadiest drop taking place late morning through Friday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service(NWS).

"Almost the entire area will see accumulating snow," the National Weather Service Mount Holly station wrote, adding that most counties will see 2 to 5 inches of snowfall, although 6 inches of accumulation will be possible in eastern Pennsylvania and central and southern New Jersey.

A winter weather advisory will be in effect from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday in Basking Ridge.

The snowfall is expected to taper off from west to east late Friday afternoon through Friday evening, though freezing or near-freezing temperatures are expected to linger through Sunday.

Here's a look at the upcoming forecast:

Thursday Night: A chance of snow, mainly after 4 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 24. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. Total nighttime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Friday: Snow. High near 29. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Friday Night: A chance of snow, mainly before 10pm. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 14. North wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Saturday: Areas of blowing snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 23. Blustery, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Saturday Night: Areas of blowing snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13. Blustery, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph.

Have a news tip? Email [email protected].