New Jersey declares state of emergency in anticipation of first major winter storm of the season

Millions of Americans are being warned as a new weather system sweeps across the country, set to deliver the first major winter storm of the season to sections of the East Coast. After dropping snow across parts of the central United States on Monday, the storm is forecast to bring accumulating snow and icy conditions to New England, where winter storm warnings are active from Albany, New York, to Portland, Maine.

The National Weather Service stated that much of New England and the Mid-Atlantic will experience intensified winter precipitation and potentially strong winds, especially in inland areas, signaling the season's first impactful storm.

In preparation for the storm, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency starting 5 a.m. ET Tuesday for multiple counties in the northwestern region of the state, citing "hazardous weather conditions, including heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain." The state's Department of Transportation will deploy crews overnight to manage the winter conditions, while drivers are urged to proceed with caution.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul also encouraged residents in upstate New York to prepare for significant snowfall. She emphasized that state agencies are ready to assist, and plow crews will maintain road safety, while urging residents to monitor forecasts closely.

The NWS indicated that snow totals could exceed six inches north and west of the I-95 corridor, with a general 2 to 5 inches expected across the Midwest Monday night. Overnight, the Ohio Valley could see 3 to 6 inches of snow.

By Tuesday morning, heavy snow is anticipated to extend from Pittsburgh to Cleveland and into western and upstate New York. Pittsburgh is under a winter weather advisory expecting 2 to 5 inches of snow. By Tuesday evening, New England will continue to experience heavy snowfall, with localized amounts between 6 and 12 inches possible through early Wednesday morning.

The storm is also predicted to bring heavy rain from Washington, D.C., through Philadelphia and New York City, reaching Boston by Tuesday afternoon, before moving off the coast late Tuesday night. This system follows another winter event that delivered substantial snow to parts of the Midwest over the past weekend, causing disruptions to holiday travel.

Author: Sophia Brooks