Winter Storm May Dump 16+ Inches Of Snow On The Caldwells: What To Know

CALDWELLS, NJ — Get ready to break out those snow shovels in the Caldwells, weather forecasters say.

A severe winter storm is expected to hit the region this weekend. Forecasts have shifted, but the latest predictions call for up to 18 inches of snow in some parts of New Jersey. Most of the snowfall is expected to happen from Saturday night to Monday.

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The Caldwell area is currently under a Hazardous Weather Outlook. In addition, a Winter Storm Watch is in effect from Sunday morning to Monday evening.

The Caldwells may see between seven and 11 inches of snow accumulation during the daytime hours on Sunday, with another three to five inches possible that evening. More snow is likely on Monday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

Here’s the local forecast for Caldwell, North Caldwell and West Caldwell, according to the NWS:

• Saturday: Increasing clouds and cold, with a high near 17. Wind chill values between -10 and zero. Northwest wind 7 to 9 mph.
• Saturday Night: A 50 percent chance of snow after 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 11. Wind chill values between 5 and 10. North wind 3 to 6 mph.
• Sunday: Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. High near 22. Northeast wind 6 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 7 to 11 inches possible.
• Sunday Night: Snow. Steady temperature around 20. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.
• Monday: Snow likely, mainly before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 26. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
• Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 6.

PREPARING FOR A STORM IN THE CALDWELLS

The North Caldwell Office of Emergency Management offered some winter storm reminders for local residents. Their advice included:

Power Outages - Please charge all electronic devices prior to the storm. Report any service interruptions directly to your power provider. Essex County is opening heating shelters for those in need; the Borough will open Fireman's Community Center for residents as necessary.

Community Care - Please check in on your neighbors.

Parking - Do not park vehicles on snow-covered streets. This allows plow trucks to clear the roadway from curb to curb.

Sidewalks and Hydrants - Residents are responsible for clearing snow from sidewalks and any fire hydrants near their property.

Snow Removal - When clearing your driveway or sidewalk, do not push snow into the street.

Travel - Keep travel to a minimum and only as necessary to ensure emergency personnel can perform their duties safely.

COLD WEATHER COMING IN ESSEX COUNTY

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. held an emergency snow preparedness meeting at the Turtle Back Zoo on Thursday, outlining the county’s plan to respond to the storm and coordinate with local municipalities.

“Although it is too early to determine how much snow we will get, the accumulation could be significant, and it could be the biggest storm we have experienced since 2021,” DiVincenzo said.

Meanwhile, Essex County has enacted a “Code Blue” alert ahead of the storm, which began Thursday evening and will continue until 9 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31.

Here’s what happens during a Code Blue, officials say:

“When a Code Blue is declared, a network of warming stations operated by the county and its municipalities and shelters operated by the community-based organizations will be opened. The warming stations identified include a variety of public libraries, senior centers, civic and community centers, school buildings, houses of worship, firehouses and first aid squad buildings. Warming stations are generally opened during the day and may not provide overnight accommodations. Shelters do provide overnight accommodations. In addition, shelters that regularly require occupants to leave during the day will suspend that practice so people can stay indoors.”

View a list of participating shelters below, visit www.NJ211.org or dial 2-1-1.

“The cold temperatures and inclement winter weather puts the health and safety of our homeless residents are risk,” Essex County Sheriff Amir Jones said.

“We appreciate our partner agencies opening their doors to provide a warm and safe place for those in need,” Jones added.

• See Related: Snow Shoveling Can Be Deadly, NJ Cardiologist Cautions

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