NORTH JERSEY — A state of emergency has been declared in five New Jersey counties ahead of a nor’easter that could bring up to a foot of snow to parts of the state.
The rain will turn to snow Monday in the northern half of the state, and will bring damaging winds behind it Tuesday, forecasters said.
The office of Gov. Phil Murphy is the state of emergency is effective at 8 pm Monday in Warren, Sussex, Morris, Passaic, and Bergen Counties. This allows the Governor to expedite state agency assistance to communities in need.
- I-78, full length from the Pennsylvania border to I-95 (the New Jersey Turnpike)
- I-80, full length from the Pennsylvania border to I-95
- I-280, full length from I-80 to I-95
- I-287, entire length from NJ Route 440 to the New York State border
- NJ Route 440, from Outerbridge Crossing to I-287
The storm’s track could significantly affect conditions in northern NJ, AccuWeather said.
“It will snow heavy and wet in nature, which could lead to downed branches and downed power lines,” added AccuWeather Meteorologist Renee Duff.
According to the National Weather Service, between five and 12 inches of snow is possible from the far northern counties down the I-80 corridor. The heaviest snow in the area will be late Monday night into Tuesday and could fall at about an inch per hour, the NWS said.
Along the I-78 corridor, one to four inches is possible as a heavier band of snow may move south late Monday night into Tuesday, the NWS said.
A winter storm warning is in effect for Sussex, Morris and Warren counties from 6 p.m. Monday through 6 p.m. Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. Western Passaic County is also under a warning from 10 pm Monday to 6 am Wednesday.
Eastern Passaic and western Bergen counties are under a winter weather advisory from 12 a.m. Tuesday until 6 a.m. Wednesday.
Elsewhere in the Garden State, the NWS says to expect rain Monday night.
Forecasters say snow is still possible as far as the Philadelphia metro area and parts of southern Jersey on Tuesday.