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New Jersey has declared a state of emergency as a powerful Nor'easter threatens to bury the state under up to 20 inches of snow, with blizzard warnings now in effect for 14 counties.
Gov. Mikie Sherrill made the declaration effective noon Sunday (February 22) during a press conference at the NJ Transit station in Maplewood. According to NJ.com, Sherrill urged residents to stay off the roads through Monday (February 23).
"I am urging you to stay off the roads Sunday through Monday," Sherrill said. "The heaviest snowfall is expected between Sunday night and Monday morning."
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued blizzard warnings for 14 counties, citing the potential for dangerous conditions — including wind gusts up to 55 mph, snowfall rates exceeding 2 inches per hour, whiteout conditions, and significant drifting snow.
"We're getting a lot of snow and extremely high winds," Sherrill said. "These are very dangerous driving conditions."
NWS warned that "travel should be restricted to emergencies only" for areas under blizzard warnings. The agency also noted that "total forecast snow accumulations have increased substantially across the board."
The blizzard warnings are divided into two waves. Starting at 10 a.m. Sunday (February 22), warnings take effect for Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Somerset, and southeastern Burlington counties. At 1 p.m. Sunday, warnings kick in for Atlantic, Cape May, Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic, and Union counties. All blizzard warnings run through 6 p.m. Monday (February 23).
Here is a breakdown of expected snowfall by county:
— Atlantic and Cape May counties: 10–18 inches; winds gusting up to 55 mph.
— Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic, and Union counties: 12–18 inches; winds up to 50 mph.
— Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, and Somerset counties: 16–20 inches; winds up to 45 mph.
— Monmouth, Ocean, and southeastern Burlington counties: 12–20 inches; winds up to 55 mph.
— Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem, and northwestern Burlington counties: 10–18 inches; winds up to 40 mph.
— Hunterdon, Sussex, and Warren counties: 8–16 inches; winds up to 40 mph.
The storm is expected to arrive as light rain or a rain-snow mix in areas south of Interstate 78 before transitioning to all snow by midday Sunday. Counties north of I-78 will see all snow from the start. The heaviest snowfall is expected Sunday night, tapering off by Monday afternoon.
Coastal flooding is also a concern. NWS has issued coastal flood warnings for Atlantic, Cape May, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and southeastern Burlington counties from 9 p.m. Sunday to 5 a.m. Monday. Up to one to two feet of inundation above ground level is possible in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways.
NWS meteorologist Cody Snell said the storm will push into the Philadelphia and New York City areas during the day Sunday before reaching Boston late Monday evening. Snell also warned that the snow will be heavier and wetter than storms seen earlier this season, due to higher surface temperatures and more water content — raising the risk of downed trees and power outages.
NWS emphasized that people across the Northeast should prepare for the storm immediately, with power outages a real possibility.
It's worth noting that a state of emergency declaration does not ban driving or require residents to shelter in place. Instead, it allows the state to organize its emergency response and activate laws against price gouging.
After the storm, winds of 20–30 mph are expected to linger Monday night with gusts up to 40 mph. High temperatures Tuesday will sit in the low-to-mid 30s, with a slight chance of additional light snow Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. School schedules are expected to be disrupted throughout the week.