As New Jersey prepares for another round of winery weather this weekend, local hardware stores are already stocking up on supplies and encouraging customers not to wait until the last minute.
At Central Paint & Hardware in Cranford, rock salt, calcium chloride and snow shovels are stocked ahead of the storm. Store manager Harri Attanasio said some places are already seeing a salt shortage.
“It is hard to find it right now,” Attanasio said. “There are big shortages from the suppliers.”
Attanasio said the store was able to stay prepared by placing pre-orders months ahead of time and distributing supplies from larger locations to smaller neighborhood stores.
The store is also advising customers to pay attention to the type of de-icing products they purchase. Calcium-based products are safer for concrete and lawns, while traditional rock salt is less expensive and better suited for blacktop surfaces.
Attanasio said the best advice is to shop early.
“We really encourage people to get it before it starts flying,” he said.
The storm is expected to drop several inches of snow on parts of New Jersey. Icy conditions are also a potential threat to the state.