As the first major winter storm of the season winds down Thursday morning, New Jersey officials said there were fewer power outages than expected, the state’s major roadways are in good condition, and rail and bus services are about to return.
But Gov. Phil Murphy warned residents to stay alert because low temperatures will likely cause melted snow to refreeze and leave black ice on roads, while blackouts are still a possibility.
“It’s going to remain cold,” Murphy said during a news conference at the New Jersey Turnpike Authority Traffic Management and Technology Center in Woodbridge. “So we should expect not only minimal melting over the next 24 hours, but whatever does melt may refreeze overnight. So we want everyone to remain cautious when venturing out.”
“We’re moving out of this, but we’re not out of it yet,” he added. “It’s still the time to be careful. Drive slowly if you’re out and stay home if you can.”
Murphy said the state of emergency he declared Wednesday remains in effect, and he does not know when it will be lifted.
State offices — including motor vehicle services — will be on a delayed opening at 11 a.m.
The ban on commercial trucks from several major highways will remain until 11 a.m.
Flood warnings are in effect along the coast until 3 p.m.
NJ Transit bus and paratransit service will resume at noon, while rail services will come back on a rolling basis starting at 11 a.m., officials said.
The storm hit New Jersey with snow, sleet, and heavy winds Wednesday afternoon into Thursday morning, but the state escaped without widespread power outages.
“All in all, the storm pretty much met the forecast,” Murphy said. “Over the next couple of hours, weather activity will begin wind down and this storm system will push its way out of New Jersey. The winds will also begin to die down as the day progresses.”
Most interstate highways are in “good shape,” but workers are still salting roads and drifting snow may be an issue in places, said sate Transportation Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti
At the peak of the storm, there were about 14,000 blackouts across the state, largely at the Shore, where winds topped 50 mph, and in the northwest part of the state, officials said.
About 4,000 outages remain as of 9:30 a.m. Thursday.
“We really expected many more outages,” said state Board of Public Utilities President Joseph Fiordaliso. “I think we dodged a bullet here.”
That, he said, is because many areas saw light snow.
Still, officials warned that ice and heavy snow on branches might cause further outages.
“Let’s keep our fingers crossed we’re on the right road,” Fiordaliso said.
State troopers had responded to 207 accidents and 246 motorist aid calls.
Murphy said the state also saw lower snow totals than anticipated, though final numbers aren’t expected until later Thursday.
Parts of Sussex and Warren counties reached or were close to 10 inches, the National Weather Service said. Numerous towns in Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth, and Morris had recorded more than six inches by late Wednesday, with several more inches expected.
The storm will cause only minor delays in coronavirus vaccines being delivered to the state — “measured in hours,” Murphy said. Forty-five hospitals are awaiting delivery Thursday or Friday.
NJ Advance Media staff writer Jeff Goldman contributed to this report.
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Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com.