Jersey Central Power & Light has pushed back electric restoration estimates for Morristown and Morris Township to late on Thursday, March 8, 2018.
But another nor-easter–the National Weather Service has upgraded its alert to a Winter Storm Warning–may have something to say about that.
The warning spans from 7 pm tonight, Tuesday, March 6, through 3 am on Thursday, March 8. Between eight- and 12 inches of wet snow are forecast; more is possible at higher elevations in northern New Jersey.
From the weather service:
The snow will be heavy at times, especially from midday Wednesday through Wednesday evening, where rates will be 1 to 2 inches per hour.
Travel will be very difficult to impossible, including during both commutes on Wednesday. Be prepared for significant reductions in visibility at times. Wind gusts up to 35 mph are possible. With this being a heavy, wet snow, it is likely that trees and power lines could be brought down from the weight of the accumulating snow, resulting in power outages.
As of 1 pm on Tuesday, JCP&L reported that 442 customers in Morris Township and 67 in Morristown remained without power after last Friday’s nor-easter. Restorations in both municipalities now are estimated for completion by 11:30 pm on Thursday.
That same estimate applies to Randolph (1,201 customers out) and the Mendhams (about 1,200 out). Forty-six customers in Morris Plains are projected to get power back sooner, by 11:30 pm Tuesday.
Morristown residents can park vehicles for free in four garages during the storm. Town trash and recycling pickups are being pushed back a day.
Morris Plains police are asking borough residents to remove their cars from local streets so snowplows can clear them.
Morris Township police announced that Woodland Avenue finally is reopened, though caution is advised because workers still may be clearing debris.
The Morris County Office of Emergency Management has posted this storm update:
ANTICIPATING A MAJOR SNOWSTORM — POWER RESTORATION WORK CONTINUES
Good afternoon,
We have concerns with regards to the current Wednesday forecast due to our current Morris County electrical outage issues, and the fact that many of our Morris County residents still remain without power.
At the time of this communication, 14,183 JCP&L customers in Morris County remain without power (down from 22,404 on Monday). County OEM officials spoke with members of the JCP&L team earlier this morning, and it does not appear that we will see a total resolution prior to the arrival of this next storm.
The current total restoration time estimate provided by the JCP&L team is Thursday, March 8th at 11:30PM, however, we expect this estimate will likely change depending on the magnitude of the incoming storm.
With each forecast update, we have increased confidence that we will be dealing with a major storm, with potential snowfall totals significantly increasing.
We have reviewed models predicting approximately one-foot of snow, with increased totals of up to 20-inches in higher elevation areas. We also have reviewed other models showing snowfall totals between 7-to-10 inches, with a worst case scenario of 10 to 15 inches. At the height of the storm, we anticipate seeing snowfall rates of one-to-three inches per hour.
Regardless of the model, we recognize that we are in for a major storm and are planning accordingly. The snow is expected to begin late this evening and will continue through Wednesday.
Due to the heavy and wet nature of the snow, trees and power lines will again be at a higher risk to come down, especially those that suffered damage from the last storm. Although the winds will not be as significant as the last storm, we anticipate seeing gusts between 25 to 35 mph.
Please see below for our Winter Preparedness Tips:
Prepare at Home: Stock up!
- Food that doesn’t require heating or refrigeration
- Water (1 gallon per person per day)
- Flashlights and batteries
- Battery powered or hand-crank radio
- Battery powered clock
- First Aid Kit
- Medications and Medical Items (if necessary)
- Cellphones with chargers
- Pet food, water, and additional supplies
- Baby supplies (formula, bottles, diapers, etc.)
- Alternate heating methods (wood, coal burning stoves, etc.)
- Warm coats, gloves or mittens, boots, and extra blankets
On the Road: Winterize your vehicle.
- Keep the gas tank full. A full tank will keep the fuel line from freezing.
- Check tires for proper inflation
- Check antifreeze
- Pack emergency supplies in a backpack for a kit on-the-go:
- Ice scraper
- Jumper cables
- Tire chains
- Small shovel
- First Aid Kit
- Flashlight and batteries
- Warning Flares or reflective triangle
Have a Plan. Be Prepared.
Thank you!
