UPDATE: Accidents With Injuries, Ice, Refreeze Hamper New Jersey Roads, Close Schools

The snow may be stopping in many places, but the effects of Thursday’s winter storm could linger for days.

Temperatures dropped into the single-digits Thursday evening and Friday morning, freezing potentially freezing the 3 to 9 inches of snow that fell in New Jersey - as well as water underneath it.

Anticipating the ice problem, many schools in New Jersey either delayed their openings or closed entirely on Friday.

>>Related: WEATHER ALERT: School Closings/Delays List In New Jersey on Friday

Right now, 35-mph speed restrictions are in place on the Garden State Parkway, the New Jersey Turnpike and the Atlantic City Expressway as a precaution for the possible refreeze.

All bridges between the Philadelphia area and New Jersey have a 25-mph speed restriction, and the Staten Island bridges have a 35-mph speed restriction.

Also, the following has happened already:

• An accident investigation on I-80 local lanes westbound area of Exit 65 - Green St in South Hackensack. Right and center lanes closed - 15-20 minute delay.
• An accident with Injuries on the Atlantic City Expressway eastbound west of Exit 33 - Winslow in Winslow. Keep Right.
• An accident on NJ 55 northbound at Exit 53 - Woodbury Glassboro Rd in Mantua. Right shoulder closed - use caution.
• An accident with injuries on the New Jersey Turnpike outer roadway southbound south of Exit 8 - Route 33 in East Windsor Twp. All lanes blocked.
• An accident on U.S. 22 eastbound area of Weequahic Park in Newark. One lane closed 10- 15 minute delay.
• An overturned vehicle on the Garden State Parkway outer roadway southbound north of Exit 117 - Route 36 in Aberdeen. Right lane and shoulder blocked.
• An accident on I-78 local lanes eastbound west of Exit 56 - Elizabeth Ave in Newark. All lanes temporarily closed.
• A watermain break on Palisades Avenue southbound between Resevoir Avenue and Booram Avenue (Jersey City). Closed until further notice.
• A vehicle spun out on I-295 southbound in the vicinity of Exit 36 - Route 73 in Mount Laurel Twp. Left shoulder closed - use caution.
• An accident on I-295 southbound north of Exit 34 - Route 70 in Mount Laurel. Left shoulder closed use caution.
• An accident on the New Jersey Turnpike inner roadway southbound north of Exit 7A - I-195 in Robbinsville. Right lane blocked.
• An accident on U.S. 1&9 Truck Route southbound ramp to New Jersey Turnpike in Newark. Partial ramp closed - use caution.
• An accident with injuries on U.S. 1&9 local lanes southbound south of Delancey Street in Newark. All lanes closed - 15-20 minute delay.

A southward push of arctic air should not bring a prolonged cold spell but will still deliver dangerous conditions, according to AccuWeather.com.

The core of the arctic air sunk into the northern Plains on Wednesday, and will continue to expand over the Northeast on Thursday night into Friday, according to AccuWeather.

According to AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said in a release: “The main concern we have is that areas of slush and standing water will freeze with this push of arctic air from the Ohio and Tennessee valleys to the mid-Atlantic coast and southern New England.”

So far, the southern portion of the state has seen the highest snow accumulations with almost nine inches, according to a News 12 report, but that snow is covering slush from earlier in the week.

>>Related: UPDATE: ‘Dangerous’ Ice Expected, 151 Accidents As Heavy Snow Blankets New Jersey’s Icy Commute

According to the National Weather Service, snowfall totals in inches include:

· EDISON - 7.0

· SUCCASUNNA - 6.3

· SOUTH AMBOY - 6.1

· CLINTON - 6.0

· MANTUA - 6.0

· SOMERVILLE - 5.7

· EDGEWATER PARK - 5.0

· VOORHEES - 5.0

· WEST DEPTFORD TWP - 5.0

· MOORESTOWN - 4.8

· MOUNT HOLLY WFO - 4.8

· LANDING - 4.0

The New Jersey State Police stated that 151 motor vehicle accidents have been reported since the beginning of the snow storm on Thursday morning, although some may be duplicate calls.

“The accident numbers could be worse,” the NJSP wrote on their Facebook page. “Our residents have been doing the right thing by staying off the roads and not driving unless it’s absolutely necessary. Let’s continue to keep the roads clear and give the plows time to clear the snow.”

Other Patch stories:

• Fundraiser For Dog’s Owner, Man Who Drove Into Icy Toms River Halted
• Brick Police Arrest Man In Weekend Stabbing
• Brookdale College Student Suspended After ‘Vulgar’ Tweets About Curt Schilling’s Daughter
• She’s A Woman: Glen Rock Armed Robbery Suspect Arrested

Photo1: Courtesy of AccuWeather

Photo2 caption: A car skids into a snow bank on the southbound interchange 2 off-ramp to US 9W during a snowstorm on Thursday, March 5.

Photo courtesy of the Palisades Interstate Parkway Police Departmentment