OCEAN COUNTY – A major winter storm bearing down on New Jersey this weekend is expected to bring a dangerous mix of snow, sleet and ice to all of the region, Ocean County and the Jersey Shore, raising concerns about hazardous travel, power outages and widespread disruptions.
Forecasters say conditions could deteriorate rapidly late Saturday night into Sunday as precipitation intensifies. While snowfall projections for parts of southern New Jersey have been trimmed slightly, that shift comes with a heightened risk of icing — a combination that can be especially dangerous for coastal and inland Shore communities.
The National Weather Service warned that heavy snow followed by sleet and freezing rain could make roads nearly impassable, particularly once ice begins to accumulate on top of existing snowfall. Officials said the evolving forecast increases the likelihood of downed trees and power lines, especially with gusty northeast winds.
Gov. Mikie Sherrill declared a statewide state of emergency effective at 5 p.m. Saturday, urging residents to stay off the roads. A commercial vehicle ban is in effect on major highways, and state officials are preparing for possible prolonged outages in some areas.
Local officials in all Ocean and Monmouth towns have put out emergency safety information on their social media pages – all of them stating they have crews ready to clear roads and tips to keep warm and safe. Utility companies have also put out warnings and tips.
In Ocean and Monmouth counties, the storm is expected to last from Saturday evening through early Monday afternoon. Meteorologists are calling for a prolonged period of heavy snow mixed with sleet and freezing rain, with total snow and sleet accumulations projected between 7 and 13 inches. Ice buildup could reach up to three-tenths of an inch, enough to weigh down tree limbs and power lines.
Snow is expected to begin overnight and intensify Sunday, with the heaviest precipitation falling during the day. Rates could reach up to 2 inches per hour at times before colder air returns late Sunday night into Monday. Frigid conditions are expected to follow the storm and persist through much of the upcoming week.
School closures, delayed openings and canceled events are likely across the Jersey Shore region as local officials monitor conditions and prepare road crews and emergency responders.
Residents are urged to complete storm preparations, avoid unnecessary travel and stay alert for updates from local officials and utility providers on respected social media pages and from local TV stations.
