Today, Governor Phil Murphy declared that New Jersey will enter a State of Emergency effective at 10:00 p.m., in preparation for a winter storm forecasted to impact the state with severe weather conditions starting tonight, Thursday, January 6, through the late morning of Friday, January 7. Executive Order No. 279 declares a State of Emergency across all 21 counties in New Jersey, allowing resources to be deployed throughout the state during the duration of the storm. 

“The anticipated winter storm is forecasted to bring significant snowfall statewide, with snowfall rates approaching 2 inches per hour in certain areas and heavy wind gusts,” said Governor Murphy. “Residents should stay off the roads, remain vigilant, and follow all safety protocols.”

“Our State Emergency Operations Center has been activated to coordinate with our State Emergency Management Partners. Troopers throughout the state are ready to assist residents and drivers both on and off of the roads for the duration of this storm as needed,” said State Director of Emergency Management and Superintendent of the State Police Colonel Patrick Callahan. “However, we cannot do it without the help of our communities. Please use caution if you must travel, prepare emergency kits for use at home and in your vehicle, and check on your neighbors.”

“Tomorrow will be a Winter Weather Congestion Alert Day. We ask anyone who has the ability to work from home or reduce your travel to please do so,” said NJDOT Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti. “Leaving the roads open helps our crews clear highways as quickly as they can.”

“Our goal is to keep New Jerseyans safe, secure and warm and as such we remain in constant contact with the state’s utilities to ensure any power outages that occur as a result of the storm are addressed as quickly and safely as possible,” said NJBPU President Joseph L. Fiordaliso. “Our activities include making sure there are enough crews in the right places to minimize the duration of any power outages to the extent possible and I urge anyone who loses power to contact their utility rather than waiting for a neighbor or someone else to make the call to make sure the outage is properly reported. Finally, I cannot stress enough to stay clear of downed power lines so that we can avoid any potential tragedies.”

Commercial vehicle restrictions will be in place as of 10:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 6 on multiple interstate highways. More information can be found here.

The Governor encourages New Jerseyans to visit ready.nj.gov for important weather updates and safety information. Residents should also pay attention to local forecasts, warnings, and watches.

For those living in Northern New Jersey and the New York Metro area, visit the U.S. National Weather Service New York, N.Y. at http://www.weather.gov/okx/

For those living in Central and Southern New Jersey, visit the U.S. National Weather Service Philadelphia/Mount Holly at https://www.weather.gov/phi/

For a copy of Executive Order No. 279, please click here.