Listen to this articleAs a severe winter storm bears down on the Garden State, acting Gov. Tahesha Way declared a state of emergency across all 21 New Jersey counties Dec. 26.
The state of emergency was declared via Executive Order No. 409, which will remain in effect until the emergency is lifted. The order took effect at 1 p.m. Dec. 26.
The winter blast is expected to include heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain. Snow accumulations of 5–8 inches is expected in parts of the state, and temperatures are forecasted to remain below freezing throughout the weekend.
“Starting this afternoon, we will experience a severe winter storm bringing dangerous outdoor conditions to our state,” said Way. “This storm will cause dangerous road conditions and impact holiday travel. We are urging travelers to avoid travel during the storm and allow crews to tend to the roads. Drivers should plan their travel accordingly, monitor conditions and road closures, and follow all safety protocols.”
Stay informed
Additional safety information and updates are available at ready.nj.gov.
The New Jersey Department of Transportation has positioned crews and contractors to respond to the forecasted winter weather. In addition, NJDOT will issue a commercial vehicle restriction at 3 p.m. for tractor-trailers, empty CDL trucks, RVs, motorcycles, and passenger vehicles pulling trailers on Interstates 78, 80, 280 and 287 as well as Route 440.
Way urges residents to stay informed by monitoring local forecasts, warnings and watches – with forecasts available here (North Jersey) and here (Central and South Jersey).
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Earlier this month, Gov. Phil Murphy issued a state of emergency in response to a propane shortage. Read more here.
