It could have been worse. A lot worse.
Dire predictions for mountains of snow on Wednesday turned out to be just that– predictions. A covering of wet snow made sidewalks slick in Morristown. Wet roads could become icy overnight, and forecasters say winds could threaten some power lines on Thursday.
We’ll take it.
“I always doubt the weather people,” Morristown resident Mike Striffler said on Wednesday evening, as he awaited a New York-bound train.”Everything in town is closed.”
NJ Transit was running sporadically on a modified schedule, as New Jersey remained under a state of emergency per Gov. Murphy’s order on Tuesday night.
“You brace for the worst and hope for the best,” said Jack Welsh, an employee from Morristown’s Staples store–which was open on Wednesday–as he awaited a train home to Newark.
Earlier this month, during the first nor’easter, his commute took nearly five hours, Welsh said. He will believe it’s spring “when it gets over 60 degrees for a couple of days in a row.”
Welsh’s co-worker, Ray Warren, approached the day with some trepidation.
Slideshow photos by Kevin Coughlin:
“I tend to expect something bad, so when nothing bad happens, I feel better.” So how was Warren feeling on Wednesday night? “I feel melancholy,” he said, huddled on a bench as light snow pelted the Morristown Train Station platform.
Roxbury reported 6 inches of snow by 8 pm on Wednesday, the most in Morris County. Greater Morristown did not even make the National Weather Service list. A Winter Storm Warning remains in place through 2 am on Thursday.
Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty said accumulations appeared to be accelerating into the evening.
“People shoud just stay off the roads,” he said.
Ninth-grader Jonathan Tenemaza and his sister Paulina, a 4th grader, looked pretty happy as they waited with their mom, Aida Flores, for a train to visit their aunt in New York on Wednesday.
After all, the Morris School District had canceled classes. As for Thursday…
“I’m hoping there’s no school,” Jonathan said.
Alas, the Morris District will be opening–two hours later than usual. Only the Sunrise program is canceled for Thursday.
Patrick–just “Patrick”–is an electrician who worked a full day in Morristown. While such weather does not faze him anymore, he said a dusting of snow like this would cripple his native Ireland.
When will he finally feel free of winter?
“The Fourth of July!” Patrick said. “I’m going to hedge my bets a little bit.”
