The much-anticipated blizzard[1] swept through New Jersey Friday night and continues to dump snow throughout the state. Forecasts remain on track for up to two feet in some locations.
Bread aisles get wiped out before big snow storm[2] We set up cameras at two New Jersey supermarkets (Super Foodtown in Red Bank and Bishop’s Supermarket in Whitehouse Station) to do surveillance on the bread aisles. The result, a time-lapse video of the most precious pre-storm commodities vanishing before your very eyes. (Video by Brian Donohue and Andre Malok | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
Most New Jersey residents will wake up to several inches of snow[3] already on the ground with more on the way. NJ Advance Media has a team of reporters working throughout the state Saturday to provide live updates. Check back frequently and refresh this post[4] for the most current links to live coverage as this storm unfolds.
FOLLOW OUR LIVE BLOG BELOW
9:50 p.m. More than a foot of water flooded downtown Margate late tonight, according to 6ABC reporter Jeff Chirico. [5]
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9:40 p.m. Police in North Wildwood said they rescued a child from a house surrounded by icy flood waters. Additional details were not immediately available.
THANK YOU North Wildwood PD for rescuing this little girl from a house on 17th & Delaware Photo: Crystal Hutchinson pic.twitter.com/FqyWH2CKnj[6]
North Wildwood PD (@NorthWildwoodPD) January 24, 2016[7]
9:08 p.m. Troopers found abandoned, snow-covered tractor-trailers along Interstate 78 in Hunterdon County, according to New Jersey State Police.
“These ghostly images look like something out of a post-apocalyptic movie,” the agency said in a Facebook post. Frozen Big Rigs Abandoned on Interstate 78So, the troops at Perryville Station are encountering abandoned…
Posted by New Jersey State Police on Saturday, January 23, 2016[8][9]
8:45 p.m. A crowded gathered for sledding and snowboarding[10] on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, 6ABC reported.
8:10 p.m. Two Sea Isle City businesses were destroyed in a fire[11] during the powerful blizzard this afternoon, the city’s Chamber of Commerce said on Twitter. Officials said there were no injuries and the cause of the blaze was unclear.
Tshirt crazy and Avalon Coffee did not survive this afternoons fire #stormjonas pic.twitter.com/13TrJNezK7[12][13]
Sea Isle Chamber (@SeaIsleChamber) January 24, 2016[14]
4100 blk of Landis Ave structure fire during #winterstormjonas. Thank you to all the mutual aid fire departments that backed us up today. Good job SICFD!
Posted by Sea Isle City Police Department on Saturday, January 23, 2016[15][16]
7:55 p.m. Revel owner Glen Straub’s yacht, Triumphant Lady, broke away from the dock[17], according to reports.
Glenn Straub, the owner of Revel, yacht breaks loose hitting other boats #6abcAction pic.twitter.com/ARMOBJiiTU[18][19]
Mike Nik (@6abcmike) January 23, 2016[20]
7:40 p.m. How much did you get? Here are the latest unofficial snowfall totals[21] from communities around the state.
7:24 p.m. Flooding was reported in Manasquan around 7:20 p.m. as high tide moved in, the borough’s Office of Emergency Management said.
High tide coming moving in #Manasquan pic.twitter.com/9flAeDq33j[22][23]
Manasquan Borough (@ManasquanOEM) January 24, 2016[24]
7:08 p.m. Troopers have responded to 231 wrecks and more than 1,000 calls to help motorists, according to the official New Jersey State Police Twitter account.
#SnowThankYou #Jonas Troops have now handled 231 crashes and 1,047 aids and counting. Oh, and everything else too. pic.twitter.com/NNIbOuedEJ[25][26][27]
NJSP – State Police (@NJSP) January 24, 2016[28]
6:42 p.m. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka ordered a travel ban in the city, the police department said on Twitter.
“We have been offering warnings to citizens since yesterday about these conditions. This is not the time to be on Newark streets with nonessential vehicles,” Baraka said in a statement. “Already, we have seen fire, police and emergency vehicles affected while carrying out their duties because of irresponsible drivers. Residents must obey this travel ban immediately.”
Mayor Ras Baraka has issued a travel ban for the City of Newark restricting travel in all cases except emergencies beginning at 5 PM today.
Newark Police Dept (@NewarkNJPolice) January 23, 2016[29]
6:34 p.m. Watch the snow pile up with time-lapse video from overnight in Mantua.
6:20 p.m. North Wildwood officials said the city was hit with “record high tide” and widespread power outages.
UPDATE FROM CITY OF NORTH WILDWOOD OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT January 23, 2016 City hit with record high tide and…
Posted by North Wildwood Police Department on Saturday, January 23, 2016[30][31]
6:04 p.m. Police tweeted a photo showing the extent of beach erosion in Harvey Cedars.
#beacherosion #Jonas #lbi #harveycedars pic.twitter.com/2zOyiTyli1[32][33][34][35][36]
Harvey Cedars Police (@HCPolice) January 23, 2016[37]
5:48 p.m. Sunday’s Bruce Springsteen concert at Madison Square Garden has been postponed due to the weekend storm. A new date was not announced.
.@TheGarden[38] & @springsteen[39] must postpone the performance set for tomorrow 1/24 due to a Tri-state travel ban & weather safety concerns.
Bruce Springsteen (@springsteen) January 23, 2016[40]
There is not an immediate date available for reschedule but more information will be coming shortly. #TheRiverTourNYC[41]
Bruce Springsteen (@springsteen) January 23, 2016[42]
5:35 p.m. The roof of a Trader Joe’s partially collapsed[43] under the weight of heavy snow in Westfield, officials said.
BREAKING: Roof collapsing under weight of snow at Trader Joe’s in #Westfield – @MarcSantia4NY on scene #nbc4ny pic.twitter.com/81hwwXrcAb[44][45][46][47]
Steven Bognar (@Bogs4NY) January 23, 2016[48]
5:28 p.m. The Bergen County Office of Emergency Management is urging residents to stay off of area roads. Meanwhile, Leonia officials ordered a travel ban in the borough.
Mayor Zeigler has declared a State of Emergency for the Borough of Leonia. There is a travel ban in effect until further notice.
Leonia Police Dept (@LeoniaPD) January 23, 2016[49]
PSA WEATHER ALERT: The County Executive has issued a voluntary travel band. He is asking only essential vehicles… https://t.co/ITYDSJbdx9[50]
Closter Police NJ (@ClosterPoliceNJ) January 23, 2016[51]
5:15 p.m. Photos tweeted by NASA and New Jersey’s native astronaut Scott Kelly offer views of the huge blizzard from space.
A Blizzard by Moonlight https://t.co/1fyhNjYl1p #NASA pic.twitter.com/6V6lXWp4qm[52][53][54]
NASA Earth (@NASAEarth) January 23, 2016[55]
Rare #thundersnow visible from @Space_Station in #blizzard2016! #Snowzilla #snowmaggedon2016 #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/l3p6hjnJOq[56][57][58][59][60][61][62]
Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) January 23, 2016[63]
4:58 p.m. When will it end? The massive East Coast blizzard is expected to continue slamming New Jersey until at least midnight[64], according to the latest update from weather reporter Len Melisurgo[65].
4:45 p.m. Police in Tinton Falls are using Humvees to drive nurses and doctors to work at area hospitals. Humvees coming in handy today transporting nurses and doctors to the local hospitals for their shifts.
Posted by Borough of Tinton Falls Police Department on Saturday, January 23, 2016[66][67]
4:35 p.m. Video shared on Twitter shows authorities using a military-style truck to navigate flood waters in Wildwood.
#Wildwood south side of Ottens Harbor. Hydrant under water @CecilyTynan @6abc #Jonas @BiggsTroi @zuz308 #jonas2016 pic.twitter.com/A5USK3TN7H[68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75]
Ernie Troiano III (@ErnieTroiano) January 23, 2016[76]
4:26 p.m. New Jersey State Police said troopers have responded to more than 200 crashes as of 1 p.m.
As of 1pm, NJSP troopers responded to 222 crashes and 868 motor vehicle aids. Don’t be part of theses stats. #SlowYourRoll[77]
NJSP – State Police (@NJSP) January 23, 2016[78]
Spin outs. Spin outs everywhere. Stay home people. #Carnage on the roadways. pic.twitter.com/ZLCXGo6qyX[79][80]
NJSP – State Police (@NJSP) January 23, 2016[81]
4:15 p.m. Watch powerful waves rock a Cape May-based U.S. Coast Guard boat
3:55 p.m. Reporter Alex Napoliello spoke with a Barnegat resident who says he won’t leave his home[82], even as officials ordered a mandatory evacuation of the area.
“It’s amazing to see this; who would want to miss this?,” Keith Sprinzen said in the interview[83] as waves crashed on his back porch.
3:40 p.m. The Gloucester Township police “sled team” is on duty and ready to race residents.
Is anyone fast enough to take on the #GTPD sled team? Having fun sledding with residents. #winterstormjonas pic.twitter.com/tZeUEYIiPe[84][85][86]
GloucesterTwpPolice (@GloTwpPolice) January 23, 2016[87]
3:25 p.m. – “Oh my god,” a witness said as a transformer exploded in Point Pleasant. More than 13,000 people are without power[88] in Ocean County.
Just in via @Checkey4NY: Exploding transformer in Point Pleasant. Remember stay away from downed lines, call utility pic.twitter.com/0lSLv9hLca[89][90]
NBC New York (@NBCNewYork) January 23, 2016[91]
3:10 p.m. – In Ocean City, Action News meteorologist Cecily Tynan captured a photo of two people standing on the hood of a car surrounded by icy flood waters.
This is happening right now in Ocean City, New Jersey #blizzard2016 pic.twitter.com/7gISbgonYe[92][93]
Cecily Tynan (@CecilyTynan) January 23, 2016[94]
(Programming note: Handing the keys to the live blog over to @noahyc[95]. See you tomorrow, New Jersey! – @spsullivan[96])
3 p.m. – Reminder: All bridges and tunnels operated by the Port Authority between New York and New Jersey were closed this afternoon.
All Port Authority bridges and tunnels to close at 2:30 due to snow storm[97]
2:51 p.m. – Union Beach in Monmouth County – an area devastated by Hurricane Sandy – is calling for voluntary evacuations for those in flood prone areas. The next high tide isn’t until later this evening.
#njwx Voluntary Evacuation Notice: Union BeachA Voluntary Evacuation for those residents in low-lying/flood prone areas & for those that have not been raised in Union Beach is in effect at this time.
Posted by Monmouth County Police, Fire & EMS on Saturday, January 23, 2016[98][99]
2:37 p.m. – In addition to flooding in Sea Isle City in Cape May County, emergency crews appear to be battling a fire at a business in the downtown district, according to a post by the local chamber of commerce.
Firefighters are currently fighting a structure fire at Avalon Coffee. Stay safe everyone #seaisle #stormjonas pic.twitter.com/Fg65yuIS21[100][101][102]
Sea Isle Chamber (@SeaIsleChamber) January 23, 2016[103]
2:28 p.m. – NJ.com weather guy Len Melisurgo has you covered with the latest snowfall amount updates. Follow @lensreality for his latest updates.
Updated snowfall totals from more than 100 towns across NJ: https://t.co/oxq7JZqts2 #blizzard2016 #NJStormWatch[104][105][106]
Len Melisurgo (@LensReality) January 23, 2016[107]
2:18 p.m. – Matt Doherty, the mayor of Belmar, said on Twitter a sailboat mast struck power lines in his town, causing outages.
JCPL removing the mast of a sailboat caught in their lines that caused power outages in Belmar. Can’t make this up. pic.twitter.com/sdNWD3iICN[108]
Matt Doherty (@mattdohertynj) January 23, 2016[109] Weekend winter storm causes flooding in Brigantine[110] Weekend winter storm causes flooding in Brigantine, Saturday morning, Jan. 23, 2016. Two major roads on the island were closed before 10 a.m. Sustained winds reached 45 mph, with gusts up to 60 mph. (Lori M. Nichols | For NJ.com)
1:42 p.m. – Larry Higgs has the details from Christie’s press conference[111] a little while ago:
Gov. Christie, who declared a State of Emergency Friday night, warned drivers not to brave the weather or they’d get themselves in trouble in what is now being called a “historic” blizzard.[112][113]
1:30 p.m. Brian Amaral[114] reports police in South Brunswick are holed up in a block of hotel rooms[115] so they can respond to emergencies in that town. Meanwhile, at the Woodlands Wildlife Refuge in Hunterdon County:
1:15 p.m. – According to Pennsylvania station WGAL, the PA Turnpike has been shut down.[116]
“It’s not safe to say the worst has passed,” Lance Franck, meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Mount…
Posted by Jersey Shore Hurricane News on Saturday, January 23, 2016[117][118]
From the mayor of Elizabeth:
Snow will be falling about 1″-3″ an hr. over the next few hrs.Our DPW workers will be pushing back as fast as humanely possible# stay inside
Chris Bollwage (@MayorBollwage) January 23, 2016[119]
12:38 p.m. – Looks like that New York travel ban is happening. No word on whether NJ would follow suit. Officials had indicated earlier they were not ruling it out but were relying on folks to use their own discretion to keep off the roads.
.@NYGovCuomo[120] announces travel ban in down state NY. NYC and state roads closed as of 2:30pm.
WNYC (@WNYC) January 23, 2016[121]
Mayor @BilldeBlasio signs travel ban for New York City, effective 2:30pm today. pic.twitter.com/7DXCUobprK[122][123]
Mayoral Photo Office (@NYCMayoralPhoto) January 23, 2016[124]
12:27 p.m. – PANDA SIREN
Tian Tian woke up this morning to a lot of snow, and he was pretty excited about it. #blizzard2016 pic.twitter.com/GrhI9t1u7j[125][126]
National Zoo (@NationalZoo) January 23, 2016[127]
Also, Kelly Heyboer[128] reports that flight cancellations are rising fast[129] at the region’s airports.
12:20 p.m. – Citing flooding and other coastal hazards[130], the Mayor of Atlantic City is asking residents to stay off the road[131].
Also: memes[132].
12:00 p.m. – Gov. Christie is having a live press conference now. Watch it here.[133]
Some quick quotes below. Will post a full writethrough when it’s ready.
“This is my 17th snow emergency in six years,” Christie said. “So we know how to do this.”
Christie says he’s coordinating with NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo on potential road closures up north. The governor, who had been criticized[134] for campaigning in New Hampshire on Friday before the storm, warns against believing “hype” about this storm. Meanwhile, Gary Szatkowski, meteorologist-in-charge at the National Weather Service’s Mount Holly office, says the storm is “truly one for the record books.[135]“
Back at his presser, Christie says, “The biggest problem (on the roads) now is visibility.”
The governor tells residents: “You’ll be fine … You’ll have a lot of shoveling to do.”
“I’m glad that I signed that shoveling bill[136],” Christie says. “To the young people of New Jersey, you are free to go out and offer your shoveling services.”
11:56 a.m. – Brittany M. Wehner[137] reports from Cape May, where a local business owner says flooding is the worst he’s ever seen it[138]:
Keith Laudeman, a third-generation owner of the Lobster House, had been prepping for the storm since Wednesday, but nothing could protect the popular business from being hit.
“This is worse than Sandy I have more water now than then,” Laudeman said, adding that water started flooding around 3 a.m. some areas flooded up to 18 inches.
“We did everything we could but the tide came up. I never saw this coming. I didn’t think it was going to be this bad,” Laudeman continued.
11:44 a.m. – MEANWHILE, IN KENTUCKY:
11:35 a.m. – Across the Hudson in New York City, Mayor Bill deBlasio says he’s considering a full travel ban, which would prohibit all non-official vehicles from the roads. The city is also under a state of emergency. He’s speaking to the press live[139] now.
Also: If you were planning on taking an Uber to the supermarket or the bar or some silly nonsense, no dice. Uber has suspended service in New Jersey[140].
11:15 am. – Reporter Ted Sherman says nearly 100,000 residents are without power. Check our outage tracker here[141].
And here’s a dispatch from the bard himself[142], Star-Ledger columnist Mark Di Ionno[143], in Toms River:
A roiling, foamy high tide, a dark gray dawn and a concerned team from Toms River’s emergency management office converged on the Lord House lifeguard station in the Ortley Beach section of the township at approximately 6:45 a.m. to see just what kind of punch this Nor’easter was going to land.
Between 44th & 45th on Central Ave. In Sea Isle City! @ACPressSkeldon @CecilyTynan pic.twitter.com/FsTPE5osJg[144][145][146]
Tony Kutschera (@Rooflines) January 23, 2016[147]
11:05 a.m. – Here’s Gov. Christie appearing on Fox News this morning:
.@ChrisChristie: “This is my job and my responsibility, and it’s my home state, the place I love.” @ffweekend https://t.co/ffmY0j7ADA[148][149][150]
Fox News (@FoxNews) January 23, 2016[151]
And our own Len Melisurgo [152]reports that strong winds remain a concern[153] across the state:
So far, as of 10 a.m. Saturday, the strongest gust was reported in Harvey Cedars on Long Beach Island 62 mph. Also among the top spots for powerful gusts were Sea Girt at 60 mph, Seaside Heights at 57 mph and West Cape May at 57 mph.
10:55 a.m. – We just spoke to Office of Emergency Management spokeswoman Laura Connolly, who reports that as of 9:45, the State Police had responded to approximately 186 accidents and 512 requests for motorist aid on state roadways.
“At this time, we still don’t have a travel ban,” she said, but state officials are asking all residents to “please stay home if you can” so crews can clear the roadways and respond to emergencies.
10:38 a.m. – Twitter update from Sea Bright Mayor Dina Long[154]:
Morning hi-tide made it into the side streets & low lying portions of Ocean Avenue #SeaBright #StayTuned #Staysafe pic.twitter.com/QKOl7JDT4K[155][156][157][158]
Dina Long (@seabrightmayor) January 23, 2016[159]
circle in #Brigantine is completely #flooded. more #photos and winter storm coverage @njdotcom #jonas pic.twitter.com/7A1pjF80i1[160][161][162][163][164][165]
Lori M. Nichols (@PhotogLori) January 23, 2016[166]
10:25 a.m. – Power outage update from reporter Ted Sherman: 97,530 people statewide currently without power, but that’s down from 117,241 a half hour ago. More than half of that is in the southern counties, including Cape May, Atlantic and Ocean.
Also, from reporter Kelly Heyboer: AirTran service at Newark Liberty International Airport was just suspended, according to a Port Authority alert. Anyone currently at the airport or trying to leave will have to use shuttle buses.
And from reporter Laura Herzog: The city of Hoboken has instituted a driving ban[167].
I’m en route to Woodbridge DOT Traffic Management & Technology Center for another storm update. Conditions are bad. Pls stay off the roads.
Governor Christie (@GovChristie) January 23, 2016[168]
10:15 a.m. – Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. @spsullivan[169] here to take over live blogging duties for a few hours. I hope you’ll stay with us and send me photographs of literally anything covered in snow besides your patio furniture.
I’m taking over our storm live blog shortly. pic.twitter.com/FPHYU0u2T6[170]
S.P. Sullivan (@spsullivan) January 23, 2016[171]
In the meantime, how cold is ‘too cold’ to leave your dog outside in N.J.?[172]
From Claude Brodesser-Akner[173]:
State Sen. Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Gregory McGuckin and David Wolfe (all R- Ocean) will introduce a bill on Monday, Jan. 25, to address the dangers to dogs left outside in New Jersey. The legislation will both require and clarify what constitutes “proper shelter” proper shelter for dogs left outside, as well as when and how cold it can be for dogs who are tied up in yards.
9:09 a.m. – No major flooding on LBI yet, but that could change, official says[174]
8:25 a.m. – Monmouth County wakes up to intense blizzard, flooding concerns[175]
8:24 a.m – Flooding in Jersey shore towns forces road closures[176]
8:15 a.m. – Baby boom 9 months after a snow storm: Fact or fiction?[177]
8:08 a.m. – NJDOT says ‘stay off the roads’ as speeds are reduced on Parkway, Turnpike[178]
7:56 a.m. – Blizzard begins to zap power lines as it makes its way north[179]
6:45 a.m. – N.J. shore live cams: More than 30 winter storm views of beaches, bays[180]
6:44 a.m. – N.J. blizzard expected to intensify Saturday, some snowfall totals rising[181]
6:21 a.m. – Travel nightmare: 1,200 flights grounded in N.J., N.Y. and Philadelphia[182]
6 a.m. – Stay up to the minute on power outages in N.J. with our live tracker[183]
5:49 a.m. – Blizzard batters East Coast causing thousands of crashes, major transit delays[184]
5:30 a.m. – Top snowfall totals across N.J. as of early Saturday morning[185]
10:41 p.m. (Friday) – NJ Transit shutting down service at 2 a.m. Saturday due to the blizzard[186]
8:30 p.m. (Friday) – Christie declares ‘state of emergency’ as blizzard approaches N.J.[187]
References
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