Gov. Murphy Declares State Of Emergency For NJ Nor'easter Snow

UPDATE: Follow Patch as we chronicle the nor'easter's impacts on New Jersey. Read more: NJ Nor'easter Snowstorm 2020: Live Updates

NEW JERSEY — Gov. Phil Murphy issued a state of emergency for New Jersey ahead of a nor'easter snowstorm that could bring well over a foot of snow to some areas of the state. Other areas could get winds as strong as 60 mph and heavy rain.

The declaration, which starts at 2 p.m., triggers executive powers and safeguards, such as imposing shutdowns prohibiting excessive price increases. The governor can also waive certain procurement procedures to expedite the delivery of goods and services necessary.

Speaking at the New Jersey Statewide Traffic Management Center on Wednesday, Murphy detailed how the state plans to respond to the storm hours before snowfall is expected to begin.

All state offices will close Wednesday at 1 p.m., excluding those essential in storm response, which includes about 2,600 staff members.

Murphy said a commercial vehicle restriction – tractor-trailers, RVs, boats and motorcycles – will be in place along interstate highways. It doesn't apply to the New Jersey Turnpike or Garden State Parkway.

State officials also imposed a speed restriction on the New Jersey Turnpike northbound from Delaware Memorial Bridge to Interchange 8A. The speed limit is 45 mph for salting operations.

Officials said there are over 400 pieces of road equipment available for snow clearing efforts to make roads safer, though he added fewer people are expected on the road due to the coronavirus.

“Because so many people are currently still working from home, and so many students are still on remote learning, we do not anticipate the same after school or rush hour issues that we would otherwise see,” Murphy said. “But if you are on the road after the storm conditions have begun, we urge you to please take it slow, and use common sense and caution.”

Murphy said the state is also watching the delivery of the new coronavirus vaccine, saying 35 hospitals are supposed to get delivery within the next 24-48 hours.

Still, according to New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti, fewer people on the road won't mean less preparation.

"We are activating all assets for this storm," she said.

According to Transportation Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti, more than 3,000 spreaders and plowers will be available, with 900 assigned to the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway and Atlantic City Expressway.

She also said:

• People should avoid public transit because of the potential storm.
• High-water vehicles will be available to assist with those who are dealing with flooding.
• Additional towing assets have been called in to assist stuck vehicles.
• I-78 and I-280 will have an "incline package" implemented, including assistance from the New Jersey State Police, for particularly hilly portions of those roadways.
• Roads were brined yesterday where there wasn't residual salt from Monday.
• COVID-19 protocols have been implemented for employees, including new cleaning protocols, social distancing and mask wearing.
• A secondary set of contractors have been activated as a matter of COVID-19 resiliency.

New Jersey Board of Public Utilities Director James Giuliano said his department has been preparing for the storm over the past several days.

He expects outages during the course of the storm, adding that the impact could come from downed tree limbs, especially in the northern part of the state.

Crews are being marshalled from New Jersey and outside the state to deal with the response, Giuliano added.

Murphy also shared an update on the coronavirus, though his usual Wednesday news conference has been replaced with the 11 a.m. snow briefing.

"The pandemic does not take a snow day," he said.

According to Murphy, the New Jersey Department of Health is reporting 5,803 new coronavirus cases, bringing the state's total to 415,075 since March 4.

He also reported 91 confirmed deaths from the coronavirus.

There is light at the end of the tunnel though, Murphy said, as the state's first COVID-19 vaccines were administered to some healthcare workers Tuesday.

"Yesterday was a historic day, a day for optimism," Murphy said, adding that residents needed to maintain their diligence in following protocols until the "millions" of statewide vaccines are administered.

"If anything, in fact, the reality of a vaccine in our midst ... should harden our resolve, not lessen it," he said.

This is a developing story. Patch will have more information as it comes in.

Read more: NJ Weather: Timing, Latest Snow Estimates For NJ Nor'easter

The National Weather Service has now issued a winter storm warning for 13 New Jersey counties, saying heavy snow mixed with ice will create a mess on local roads and highways for Monmouth County and north – especially after 5 p.m.

The timing of the storm shifted to later in the day; now the nor'easter is expected to hit hardest on Wednesday night and last into Thursday morning.

Many schools could be either close or switch to all-remote learning. Winds as strong as 60 mph could down power lines and cause electrical outages, especially at the Jersey Shore. Roads may be closed, just as shipments of the coronavirus vaccine are coming to New Jersey.

Here are the latest snow estimates:

Here is what to expect from the storm that's expected to impact the region between 12 noon on Wednesday and 12 noon on Thursday:

• Heavy snow, mixed precipitation, and rain will affect the region. Snow amounts will be significant near and north and west of the I-95 corridor.
• Snowfall rates could reach 1 to 2 inches per hour for a time late day Wednesday – or after 5 p.m. – and into Wednesday night, causing significantly reduced visibility and potentially crippling travel impacts in places.
• Very strong winds expected near the coast and over the marine zones with gusts potentially reaching 45 to 60 mph. This could result in power outages.
• Inland, gusts could reach as high as 30 to 40 mph, exacerbating visibility restrictions in snow.
• Moderate coastal flooding is possible with Wednesday evening’s high tide and likely with Thursday morning’s high tide along the Atlantic Ocean and lower Delaware Bay. Additionally, minor tidal flooding is possible with Wednesday morning’s high tide.

The storm is expected to be the worst storm since 2018, when ice storms dominated much of the winter. An unexpected storm hit New Jersey during the late fall of that year.

Forecasters are warning that the storm will hit hard and fast with major disruptions to travel and even travel shutdowns, as well as shipping delays, school closings and power outages, according to AccuWeather.

North Jersey and the lower Hudson Valley of New York state through much of Connecticut and northwestern Rhode Island is the most likely zone to experience blizzard and whiteout conditions, according to AccuWeather. Winds can frequently gust between 40 and 60 mph, dropping the visibility to near-zero at times at the height of the storm Wednesday night into Thursday morning, according to AccuWeather.