Winter Storm Reminders, Tips Offered In Basking Ridge

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — As another winter storm heads to Basking Ridge - with forecasters predicting 4 to 6 inches on Friday - Bernards Township officials are reminding residents. and offering tips to prepare.

"We would like to remind residents that there is NO PARKING on any street in Bernards Township between the hours of 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. This is especially important with any impending snow storm. Please allow for trouble-free plowing by moving your vehicle off the street before the snow begins to fall," said Bernards Township Police.

Parking on the street during a snow emergency is prohibited. Vehicles parked on the street are subject to a summons and being towed.

Depositing or throwing snow onto the street is also prohibited; do not shovel, plow or otherwise place snow onto the roadway.

Do not place garbage and recycling cans in the street. It is recommended that garbage cans be placed at least 3 to 5 feet off the edge of pavement, into your driveway, so they are out of the way of the snowplow or snow being pushed aside while the snowplow is going down the road.

For more information, see the Bernards Township Snow Emergency Ordinance.

Remember to check generators and snowblowers for proper operation before the storm begins.

Always keep generators away from windows and doors and never operate them in enclosed spaces.

Please also check in on neighbors, especially the elderly or those that might need assistance. Don’t wait for a neighbor to need help to be a good friend.

Visit FEMA's winter weather preparation page for winter weather preparation and safety tips.

Please remember the following:

• Report power outages and downed wires to JCP&L promptly. Always stay away from downed wires.
• Stay off roads.
• Fully charge portable electronic devices.
• For weather updates see the National Weather Service's website or other reputable weather outlet.

Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L)

In the event outages occur due to severe weather, customers without power are encouraged to report their outage by calling 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877), clicking the “Report Outage” link on www.firstenergycorp.com, or by texting out to 544487.

Customers should immediately report downed wires to 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877) or call their local police department. JCP&L reminds customers to stay away from downed wires, even if they believe they are no longer carrying electricity. Extra caution should be used in areas where downed lines are tangled with trees or other debris. Motorists are cautioned to treat intersections with inoperable traffic signals as four-way stops.

JCP&L customers can subscribe to email and text message alert notifications to receive weather updates in advance of major storms and updates on scheduled or extended power outages.

Visit www.firstenergycorp.com/connect to enroll.

Follow JCP&L on Twitter @JCP_L, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JCPandL or online at https://www.firstenergycorp.com/jersey_central_power_light.html

Optimum is monitoring their network and will report any impacts to the system. In the event our services are impacted, customers can visit My Account for service updates. Customers can also check the Storm Center Outage Map for information on outages and estimated resolution timeframes.

You can also:

1. Message Optimum at optimum.net/chat
2. Send Tweet to @Optimumhelp
3. Call Optimum at (866) 950-3278

Many of the Optimum resources, as well as storm preparation recommendations and frequently asked questions, are also available at https://www.optimum.net/pages/storm-preparedness.html

PSE&G:

Report any natural gas leaks, disruptions or outages to PSE&G at 1-800-880-7734. Do not use a gas range or stove to heat your home. Residents can also visit PSE&G's storm safety page for more information and safety tips.

Verizon:

For Verizon outages contact their customer service at 1-800-VERIZON. Always stay away from downed wires.

New Jersey American Water Company:

Water problems such as water main breaks and leaking hydrants can be reported to NJAWC by calling 1-800-272-1325 or by using their online reporting page here.

Forecast

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 the latest forecast, according to the NWS:

Thursday Afternoon: Cloudy, with a high near 32. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night: A chance of snow, mainly after 3 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 24. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Friday: Snow. High near 30. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Friday Night: A chance of snow, mainly before 10 p.m. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 13. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

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