Snowy Saturday: South Jersey residents should try to stay home, state says

TRENTON — Road crews are on the road for a second day in a row as New Jersey deals with a second straight day of snow.

The uncertainty of the storm's track continued as it took more of a "coast hugger" track as it approached the state. "We are indeed going to end up on the high side of the snow forecast," said meteorologist Dan Zarrow.

"There has been considerable uncertainty surrounding this storm’s track," meteorologist Dan Zarrow said Saturday morning. He expects the track of the storm to bring slightly higher accumulations for the southern Jersey Shore, with Middlesex and Mercer counties added to the Winter Weather Advisory.

The steadiest, heaviest snow will fall through early afternoon, according to Zarrow, who said "roads will get progressively messier as the day presses on."

As of 3 p.m. the most snow had fallen in in Atlantic County with 6 inches in Estell Manor, and Collings Lake and 4.5 inches in Galloway, according to the National Weather Service. South Dennis in Cape May County received 6 inches as well with 5 inches in Wildwood Crest and Cape May Harbor. Manahawkin also got 5 inches.

The rest of the state received anywhere from 1-4 inches with more to the south and less to the north.

Speed was reduced to 35 mph on the Garden State Parkway between Cape May and exit 63 in Mahawakin and then only 45 mph through Toms River as the snow continued to fall. The New Jersey Turnpike also had a 45 mph speed limit for its entire length.

Several crashes were reported on the Parkway, Turnpike and other interstates where traffic overall is moving slower.  A crash on Route 41 in Deptford that took down a utility pole and wires  closed the road Saturday morning between Delsea Drive and County House Road.

Department of Transportation spokesman Steve Schapiro said "our guys are ready as always" and that crews are coming in on a rolling basis with the South Jersey staff first in on Saturday morning.

"We have a couple hundred spreaders on the road in South Jersey and we'll bring in equipment as needed as the storm progresses," Schapiro said.

While all roads get equal attention, Schapiro said special attention will be paid to roads along the coast where the heaviest snowfall is expected. He said they are monitoring conditions "so we're ready in case the storm heads west a little bit."

"It's a Saturday so folks don't need to go out. Stay home and do your chores tomorrow. But if you do have to go out, exercise patience, plan extra time for wherever you're going, slow down, be safe and if you see trucks out there spreading and plowing stay back and let them do their job," Schapiro said.

Schapiro said that salt applied in anticipation of Thursday night's snow remained, so no additional pre-treatment was needed for Saturday.

The Camden County Department of Public Works said it will dispatch its crews from their complex in Lindenwold to the county’s 12 winter maintenance districts only to the zones where they are needed. Camden County Freeholder Shin Angulo said that if you need to travel on Saturday, "always leave at least six car lengths behind our DPW vehicles while they work, and move any cars off the street and into a driveway while we continue our operations."

New Jersey Fast Traffic's Bob Williams said that even though the precipitation is white and not wet, state law requires headlights to be on when windshield wipers are in use.

"Remember to clean off your entire car, including the roof, or you could be subject to a fine possibly as high as $1,000," Williams said.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com.

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