Gov. Phil Murphy has issued a state of emergency for New Jersey, effective at noon on Saturday, ahead of a weekend winter storm.

The governor also issued a commercial travel restriction on all roads north of Interstate 95, but not including the New Jersey Turnpike.

Parts of the Garden State could see up to 8 inches of snow Saturday night into Sunday morning. But forecasters say that the worse part of the storm is expected to be dangerous ice as temperatures drop below freezing.

The governor urged all New Jersey residents to stay off the roads as much as possible during the storm.

The snow should taper off by Sunday morning, followed by slightly warmer temperatures and rain. Temperatures are expected to drop below freezing Sunday evening, meaning most of the snow and rain will freeze over, causing dangerous and slick conditions.

New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti said that plows and salt trucks are prepped and ready to go in order to clear the snow from state roadways. She asked state residents to refrain from passing the trucks if they had to be out on the roads. She asked drivers to maintain a safe distance away to allow the crews to do their work.

 

 

New Jersey State Police Superintendent Col. Patrick Callahan echoed the sentiments and also urged residents to stay off the roadways as much as possible.

Gutierrez-Scaccetti also said that New Jersey Transit is expected to run on its normal weekend schedule. But she said that bus service could be subject to changes depending on the storm.

Officials also warned that the ice formed by the storm could possibly lead to falling trees and powerlines – causing power outages around the state. Roadways may also become too dangerous for travel.

Officials urged residents to report any power outages to their utility company when they occur. They also warned everyone to stay away from any downed powerlines, as they could pose a danger. Officials did say that it could take a little bit of time to repair any powerlines damaged by the storm due to potentially dangerous conditions.

Overall, leaders said that residents should have patience this weekend and allow emergency crews to do their work.

Information about emergency services during the storm can be found at ready.nj.gov.