Ocean County Sheriff's Department Issues Code Blue Alert

OCEAN COUNTY, NJ - The county office of Emergency Management has declared a "Code Blue" alert from 7 p.m. on Monday through 8 a.m. on Friday, in advance of expected bad weather, according to the Ocean County Sheriff 911 Facebook page.

"This Declaration is based on forecast weather below 25 degrees or below 32 degrees with precipitation," the post states.

The following warming centers will be opened from Monday, Feb. 5 through Wednesday, Feb. 7:

Lakewood Community Center, 20 East 4th Street, on Monday from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m.

First Assembly of God, 800 Bay Avenue, Toms River, on Monday and Tuesday from 7 p.m. until 8 a.m., on Wednesday from 9 p.m. until 8 a.m.

Veterans of Foreign Wars, 373 Adamston Road, Brick Township, Tuesday and Wednesday from 12 p.m. until 6 p.m.

Once a Code Blue Alert is released, information about the availability of weather-related services provided by non-profit and volunteer organizations will be posted on the Ocean County Department of Human Services website, by email and by via social media.

Here's the National Weather Service's outlook for the Jersey Shore over the next several days:

Temperatures are expected to dip to 19 degrees tonight in Ocean County. Tomorrow will see a high of 40. There's a slight chance of freezing rain on Tuesday night, changing to all rain by 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

Expect rain on Wednesday, with a high near 48 degrees, with rain possibly turning to snow after 4 a.m. with a low of 31 degrees.

Thursday will be mostly sunny, with a high of 34 degrees during the day and a low of 22 degrees on Thursday night.

Photo: Patricia A. Miller