Ice, Sleet In NJ Lead To Slippery Friday Morning Commute

NEW JERSEY - A wintery mix of precipitation Thursday evening into Friday is expected to continue through the early afternoon in the Garden State as forecasters and government officials alike warn of ongoing dangerous travel conditions.

Mixed sleet and freezing rain are expected to move through the state this morning with additional sleet accumulations of up to one inch and ice accumulations of up to one tenth of an inch in North Jersey (which has already seen between 1 to 2 inches of snowfall), the National Weather Service said. Wind gusts of up to 35 mph are in store for the afternoon.

The southern portion of the state is expected to see just rain, although forecasters warn of slippery road conditions throughout New Jersey.

“Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning commute,” the National Weather Service said Friday morning. “Slow down and use caution while traveling.”

As of 8 a.m. Friday, several north and central New Jersey school districts have announced delayed openings due to the winter storm. Over 140 flights out of Newark Liberty International Airport have been canceled, per FlightAware.

A commercial vehicle travel restriction has been put in place on multiple highways in the state (see below). All motorists are encouraged to avoid unnecessary travel on Friday, per the New Jersey Department of Transportation. There are also several weather-related speed advisories on the Garden State Parkway.

“A mixed bag of precipitation continues across the area this morning,” the National Weather Service said. “Slow down on the roads, slippery spots are possible even where temperatures have risen above freezing.”

“Please exercise caution on the roads and take it slow,” New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver tweeted Thursday night.

10 New Jersey counties are currently under a winter weather advisory through Friday afternoon at 1 p.m. The counties are:

• Bergen
• Essex
• Hudson
• Hunterdon
• Morris
• Passaic
• Somerset
• Sussex
• Union
• Warren

Mercer and Middlesex counties are currently under a winter weather advisory as well. That advisory remains in effect until 10 a.m.

The New Jersey Department of Transportation’s commercial vehicle travel restriction on multiple Interstate highways began midnight on Friday, in effect until further notice for the following highways in both directions:

• I-78, entire length from the Pennsylvania border to I-95 (New Jersey Turnpike)
• I-80, entire length from the Pennsylvania border to I-95 (New Jersey Turnpike)
• I-280, entire length from I-80 to I-95 (New Jersey Turnpike)
• I-287, entire length from NJ Route 440 to the New York State 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
• 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.

Here's the latest forecast:

North Jersey

Friday: Sleet becoming rain, mainly before 2 p.m. High near 38. Wind chill values between 25 and 30. Northeast wind 8 to 11 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 22. Wind chill values between 10 and 15. Northwest wind 10 to 17 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 35. Wind chill values between 10 and 20. Northwest wind around 11 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 27. Wind chill values between 20 and 25. West wind 8 to 10 mph.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 44. West wind 11 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 21.

South Jersey

Friday: Rain, mainly before 11 a.m. High near 47. Breezy, with a west wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 24. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 38. North wind 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 25. Southwest wind around 5 mph.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 49. West wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 22.