By LOUIS C. HOCHMAN
hochman@montclairlocal.news
The giant snowfall that hit Montclair (well, not just Montclair) is keeping up into Tuesday.
The good news is, you probably have the electricity to read this. At 10:30 Monday night, PSEG was reporting none of its its 19,258 Montclair residents were without power. It showed a similarly bright picture county-wide: Fewer than 5 residents of Essex County were without power, according to the utility’s tracking. (In fact, both PSE&G and JCP&L showed only tiny outages throughout their service areas.)
Travel was difficult — and advised against — Monday, and only looking a little bit better for Tuesday. Montclair expected to lift its state of emergency Tuesday morning at 6 a.m.
During the state of emergency, non-essential travel was barred. On-street parking remained prohibited until 12 hours after snowfall has stopped. Montclair warned township police would ticket and tow vehicles on streets during that period. Residents may park their vehicles free of charge in municipal lots and decks until streets are clear of snow, the township said.
Essex County was also asking residents to stay off its roads through Tuesday morning, to make snow removal easier.
Montclair Kimberley Academy will hold all-remote classes on Tuesday, Feb. 2. Montclair Public Schools initially announced an all-remote schedule for Tuesday as well, but have since amended those plans to have an abbreviated day. Montclair Immaculate Conception High School is giving students the day. The public school system was on an adjusted schedule Monday, and the private schools were both off.
All NJ Transit bus and rail service except the Atlantic City Rail Line remained suspended Monday for the entire service day. That includes the Montclair-Boonton train line, and its six stops in the township. As of late Monday night, NJ Transit hadn’t issued any advisories regarding Tuesday’s services.
The township this week was also urging residents to help clear snow from fire hydrants — asking for a radius for about 3 feet and a path from the hydrant to the street.
All coronavirus vaccination appointments through Essex County’s vaccination sites for Tuesday, Feb. 2 will be moved to Sunday, Feb. 7 as well. All state-run vaccine “mega-sites” were closed Monday, and staff was expected to contact those with appointments to reschedule
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The forecast
The National Weather Service anticipated snow would continue Tuesday, with a high near 32 degrees, and wind chills as low as 15 degrees. Gusts could be as high as 30 degrees. But the snow is tapering off — only 1 to 2 inches are expected Tuesday.
The NWS said there’s a 40 percent chance of light snow Tuesday night, mainly before midnight. Wind speeds and gusts were expected to slow by then as well.
Snow is possible again for part of Friday — but nothing like the snowstorm that hit New Jersey early this week is anticipated.
NWS forecasts are updated frequently. See here for the latest from the service.
Essex Ed, the resident groundhog at Turtle Back Zoo, will make his annual weather predication on Tuesday. It’ll be streamed live on the Turtleback Zoo’s Facebook page at 11 a.m.
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Stay off the roads
New Jersey State Police said that by 7 p.m., they’d responded to 661 motor vehicle crashes and 1050 motorist assistance calls in areas they patrol.
“We urge residents to remain off of the roads unless you absolutely have to go out. If you must go out, please slow down and drive carefully,” the NJSP wrote in a Facebook post.
The New Jersey Department of Transportation had issued a commercial travel restriction for several highways — including Routes 80, 280 and 287 — beginning at noon Sunday. The New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway were not affected. The restriction remained in effect late Monday night.
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