By Kevin Coughlin
Remember when the Shore got the mild winter weather?
Not any more. A blizzard watch is in effect this weekend for most of central and southern New Jersey, where wind gusts exceeding 50 mph and heavy accumulations are possible. A coastal flood watch also has been issued as the Nor-easter gather steam.
Morristown is under a winter storm watch. As of Thursday afternoon, Jan. 21, 2016, the National Weather Service was predicting 8 to 14 inches of snow may fall between late Friday and Sunday morning.
Fluffy at first, it will become wetter and heavier, raising the threat of falling branches and power outages, according to this forecast. Temperatures in the 20s are anticipated, with gusts approaching 30 mph.
News 12 New Jersey was predicting only 4- to 6 inches for the Morristown area, because precipitation may change to rain or a wintry mix on Saturday.
Jersey Central Power & Light said it’s reinforcing flood-prone electrical substations, beefing up its dispatch operations and placing extra personnel on standby.
Customers are reminded to avoid all power lines, even if the lines appear to be unpowered. Motorists should treat all intersections with non-functioning traffic signals as four-way stops. Power outages should be reported to 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877) or at www.jcp-l.com. More storm information from the utility is at www.jcp-l.com/connect.
Town residents can park free in three Morristown Parking Authority garages from 6 pm on Friday, Jan. 22, through 8 am Monday, Jan. 25, 2016. Use the Dalton (Cattano Avenue), Ann/Bank Street and DeHart Street garages.
The Red Cross offers these winter storm safety tips:
1. Have at least a three day supply of water and non-perishable, easy to prepare food as well as a seven day supply of medications.
2. If you need to go outside, dress in layers of lightweight clothing to stay warm. Gloves and a hat will help prevent losing body heat.
3. Winterize your vehicle and keep the gas tank full. A full tank will help keep the fuel line from freezing.
4. Bring the pets indoors. If that’s not possible, make sure they have enough shelter to keep them warm and that they can get to unfrozen water.
5. Avoid frozen pipes – run water, even at a trickle, to help prevent them from freezing. Keep the thermostat at the same temperature day and night to help avoid freezing pipes.
6. Do not use a stove or oven to heat the home.
7. Space heaters should sit on a level, hard surface and anything flammable should be kept at least three feet away.
8. If using a fireplace, use a glass or metal fire screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs
9. Turn off space heaters and make sure fireplace embers are out before leaving the room or going to bed.
10. Charge cell phones and keep flashlights handy in the event of a power outage.
The Red Cross also offers a free first aid app.
