Winter Storm Impacts In Chatham: Here's What's Happening

CHATHAM, NJ — As snow continues Thursday morning in Chatham, officials have advised people to stay off the roads. The weather has already caused some issues on major roadways throughout Morris County.

Officials reported a disabled tractor trailer at 9:38 a.m. Thursday blocking the right lane on Interstate 80 in Mount Olive. A vehicle overturned earlier in Harding Township, but the scene has been cleared for drivers.

The National Weather Service projected 6-8 inches of snow in Morris County but hasn't reported any local snowfall totals as of 10 a.m. Thursday. So far, New Jersey's snowfall peaked at 6 inches in Mercer County.

Snow could continue into Friday evening, according to forecasters.

Patch will provide town-by-town snow totals. Read more: Who Got The Most Snow? NJ Town-By-Town Snow Totals

The School District of the Chathams planned a virtual day for Thursday and will announce by 8 p.m. whether schools will go remote again Friday.

Here were the expected snow totals:

The Morris County Regional COVID-19 Vaccination Center in Rockaway Township and the Morris County COVID-19 Testing Center at the County College of Morris (CCM) will both be closed on Thursday due to inclement weather.

All vaccination appointments scheduled for Thursday at the Regional COVID-19 Vaccination Center at the Rockaway Townsquare Mall are rescheduled to Saturday,
Feb. 20, and individuals will be able to receive their vaccinations at the same time of their original Thursday appointment.

Everyone who had an appointment for a COVID-19 test on Thursday at the testing center at CCM is urged to reschedule their appointment by going to https://booknow.appointment-plus.com/b8hq2y7k/

State officials said they have several hundred pieces of road equipment available to make the roads safe, even though fewer people are taking to the roads because of the coronavirus.

Road impacts:

A speed restriction was imposed on the Garden State Parkway in both directions from Southern Terminus/CR 109 in Cape May to Exit 41 - CR561/Jimmie Leeds Road in Galloway Twp: 45 miles per hour due to roadway conditions.

A speed restriction was imposed on the New Jersey Turnpike in both directions from North of Interchange 7A - I-195 in Robbinsville to North of Interchange 8A - NJ 32 in South Brunswick Twp: 45 miles per hour for Salting Operation.

New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti has issued a commercial vehicle travel restriction on multiple Interstate highways in New Jersey starting at 4 a.m., Thursday, February 18 based on the forecast for heavy snow.

Snow was hitting overnight before the morning commute, with periods of heavy snow forecast during the day. Precipitation is expected to continue through the afternoon commute and into Friday. The travel restrictions are being coordinated with neighboring states.

In addition to the commercial restrictions, all motorists are strongly encouraged to stay off the roads on Thursday. The safest place to be is at home.

The commercial vehicle travel restriction will begin at 4 a.m., Thursday, February 18 and will be in place until further notice for the following highways in both directions:

· I-78, from the Pennsylvania border to I-95 (New Jersey Turnpike)
· I-80, from the Pennsylvania border to I-95 (New Jersey Turnpike)
· I-195, from I-295 to NJ Route 138
· I-280, from I-80 to I-95 (New Jersey Turnpike)
· I-287, from NJ Route 440 to the New York State border
· I-295, from Exit 60 (I-195) north to the Scudders Falls Bridge (Pennsylvania border)
· NJ Route 440, from the Outerbridge Crossing to I-287

The commercial vehicle travel restriction applies to:

· All tractor trailers (exceptions as listed in the Administrative Order)
· Empty straight CDL-weighted trucks
· Passenger vehicles pulling trailers
· Recreational vehicles
· Motorcycles

This restriction DOES NOT apply to:

· The New Jersey Turnpike
· The Garden State Parkway
· The Atlantic City Expressway
· I-76
· I-676
· Public safety vehicles, sworn and civilian public safety personnel; as well as other personnel directly supporting healthcare facilities or critical infrastructure such as providing fuel or food. For a complete list of operations or personnel that are exempt from the travel ban, see the Administrative Order.

Trucks that are already in New Jersey when the travel restrictions go into place are encouraged to pull off in truck stops to wait out the storm – DO NOT PARK ON SHOULDERS.

Here is the forecast for Chatham:

• Thursday: Snow. High near 28. Northeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.
• Thursday night: Snow. Low around 25. Northeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
• Friday: Snow before 1pm, then rain and snow likely. High near 33. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
• Friday night: A chance of snow before 7pm. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 23. Northwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
• Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 32. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.

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