Berkeley Prepares For Major Winter Storm: Latest Forecast, How To Prepare

BERKELEY, NJ — As New Jersey braces for a winter storm set to begin on Saturday night, Patch has created a guide for impacts in Berkeley, local preparations and more.

According to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service, New Jerseyans should expect around 12-18 inches of snow from Saturday night to Monday.

In the Toms River area, forecasters are predicting 12 inches of total snow accumulation. All of the Garden State is expected to be under Winter Storm Watch from Saturday evening through Monday afternoon.

• Read: New Snowfall Accumulation Estimates Released For NJ

Ahead of the storm, the Berkeley Township Office of Emergency Management are advising residents to prepare early with the following steps:

Forecasts for the pending snowstorm expected to affect the Berkeley Township area between Saturday, 1/24/26 thru Monday 1/26/26 are still being developed. Over the next 24-72 hours, residents should take time to prepare for the storm. Some suggestions for preparation include ensuring that you have flashlights/ spare batteries, food/water, snow shovels/ salt, and enough prescription medicine.

In Berkeley, officials are also reminding residents to observe the “No parking when road is snow covered” signs, as violators will be subject to ticketing and towing.

Township officials also shared the following update about trash and recycling:

Due to the anticipated winter weather conditions, garbage and recycling collection scheduled for Monday, January 26th, has been suspended until the following day. All collection will resume on Tuesday, January 27th, with possible delays of up to 24 hours. Please wait until after the 24-hour delay period before calling in a missed collection. Should plowing be necessary, residents are reminded to remove all vehicles from roadways. Thank you for your cooperation.

For those without shelter, a “Code Blue” alert has been extended in Ocean County until 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 27.

“Code Blue” is put in place when temperatures drop below freezing (32 F), and conditions pose a threat to unsheltered individuals.

If you or someone you know does not have shelter in Ocean County, they can go to:

• CSPNJ / County Building (Toms River)
• Warm Hearts (Lakewood)
• St. John’s Zion AME (Lakewood)

You can also get help by calling 2-1-1 or visiting the NJ211 website.