UPDATED: Snow Parking Ban in Effect in Butler, Kinnelon, Bloomingdale

Kinnelon police are advising residents not to use roadways at all unless absolutely necessary as the blizzard warning will be lifted Monday morning at 9 a.m., according to the National Weather Service.

"The roads are extremely hazardous and it is highly advised that you do not use them," police said Sunday evening.

Butler police are also advising residents not to use the roadways, and while they do not have a total snow accumulation figure so far, police said the snow has made for dangerous driving conditions.

A State of Emergency was declared for New Jersey Sunday evening by Acting Governor Stephen Sweeney. 

"We have been monitoring the situation throughout the afternoon. Based on current conditions and the forecast I am declaring a state of emergency throughout New Jersey," he said.

"It is vital that police and public works crews are able to do their jobs. I urge all residents to take this declaration and this storm seriously, and to stay safe, stay home and stay off the roads. We will continue to monitor this storm with the help of our State Police and transportation officials."

Just one day after Christmas, the tri-boro is experiencing its first snowstorm, with blizzard-like conditions expected and up to 18 inches of snow predicted. As a result, Butler police have said parking is not permitted on the roads during the storm, and that if residents have driveways they should use them. On-street parking is also not permitted in Bloomingdale during snow storms, according to police, or on roadways in Kinnelon. Parking on the roadways will not be permitted through Monday as well.

Also, state and county police have been ordered to tow any vehicles that have been abandoned on all state roadways until noon Monday.

Even before the holiday, the boroughs of ,  and  prepared for this weekend's wintry mix.

In Kinnelon, roads will be plowed throughout the storm and salt spread throughout the borough. Kinnelon DPW Superintendent John Whitehead said the department filled its salt shed with 1,800 tons of pure salt at the beginning of the season.

"[This year], we've only been out once so far," Whitehead said. Whitehead said that by this time last year, Kinnelon had already gone through about 1,200 tons of salt.

In Kinnelon, only pure salt is used on the roads.

Salt is also used on most of the roads in Bloomingdale, with the exception of the lake communities, including Lake Iosco, as salt is not permitted on the roads there. Instead, Bloomingdale DPW Superintendent Albert Gallagher said, grit is used.

"Grit is like ground up rocks," Gallagher said. The borough goes through and plows the roads first, he explained, and then spreads the grit. As cars drive over the ground up rocks, they become more effective against slippage on the roads.

Gallagher said Bloomingdale did not have to purchase any salt or grit so far this year, as the borough had a whole shed-full leftover from last year, which the borough would be using for this weekend.

While travel may be necessary, Gallagher said if possible, avoiding the roads would be the safest on Sunday.

David Robinson, a state climatologist from Rutgers, said the effects of the storm should be ongoing through Monday.

"This is a dangerous storm, and should bring the area to its knees for the next 12 to 24 hours. A classic Nor'Easter continues to bloom."

 "The forecast has actually gotten worse," he said. "It's now a call for 15 to 20 inches with areas up to 2 feet."

If you are experiencing an emergency, contact your local police department:

Kinnelon: (973) 838-5400
Butler: (973) 838-4100
Bloomingdale:  (973) 838-0158