New Jersey is preparing for a blast of cold air which could cause dangerous conditions around the state.
Gov. Phil Murphy ordered state offices to close early Tuesday afternoon in anticipation in the upcoming snow and extreme cold that is expected to follow.
Northern areas of the state are expected to see roughly 3 to 6 inches of snow, while 2 to 4 inches is likely in western parts of central Jersey. The rest of the state was expected to see mostly rain before the precipitation turns to all snow by late Tuesday night.
Dozens of school districts were closed Tuesday or announced early dismissals due to the storm.
Mike Iarrapino, of Edison Heating and Cooling, says that his company is bracing for the bitter blast.
"It's going to be crazy. Our service manager already called a “Code Blue” on Sunday when we saw the impending weather for Thursday. Our Code Blue is basically all hands on deck,” Iarrapino says.
Several airlines are offering travel waivers due to the harsh weather sweeping across the country. Those planning to fly this week on carriers like United, Southwest, American and Delta can change their travel date with no extra cost.
The waivers are for specific destinations mostly in the Midwest where cities are dealing with snow, ice and freezing temperatures. Fargo, North Dakota saw temperatures of 24 degrees below zero by Tuesday evening.
While New Jersey won’t see temperatures that cold – high temperatures for the end of the week should only reach the mid-teens, with wind chills making conditions feel colder.
New Jerseyans are urged to stay inside as much as possible when temperatures get this cold. They are also advised to go to the nearest shelter if they do not have heat in their home. Resources for assistance can be found on the state’s website
nj211.org.
The Associated Press wire services contributed to this report.