All Chester Schools Close On Wednesday Due To Flooding

CHESTER, NJ — All schools within the Chester School District will now be closed on Wednesday due to weather conditions, the district announced Wednesday morning.

In neighboring Mendham, both Mendham Borough Schools and Mendham Township Public Schools decided to remain open but operate under a two-hour delayed opening.

"Buses will arrive at their pickup stops two hours later than usual," Mendham Township Public Schools said.

Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm going into effect across the state, which began at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

AccuWeather meteorologists even warned of "dangerous to life-threatening conditions" stemming from rapid flooding, downed trees, high winds and darkness Tuesday night.

According to forecasters, three rivers in North Jersey are expected to hit the "major flood level" stage, including one in Morris County. The Passaic River at Pine Brook is anticipated to hit the major flood stage and rise to 21.4 feet by Thursday.

"It is extremely important that the public pay attention to the conditions, specifically as they relate to floodwaters for the next several days. We are anticipating that floodwaters will exist in certain municipalities," the Morris County Office of Emergency Management said.