UPDATE: National Weather Service Issues Blizzard Warning For Manchester

(Heavy snow and blizzard conditions will make driving hazardous. Credit: Karen Wall)

By Patricia A. Miller (Patch Staff)
and Karen Wall (Patch Staff)

The National Weather Service late Sunday afternoon upgraded its earlier blizzard watch to a blizzard warning for much of Ocean County.

Manchester Township officials are monitoring the progress of the storm and will make decisions about evening events, including Monday’s Township Council meeting, on Monday morning, said Police Chief Brian Klimakowski, who also is the acting township business administrator.

The National Weather Service is now calling for 18 to 28 inches of snow, with high winds and occasional whiteout conditions. Expect light snow first around daybreak on Monday. But the storm will intensify quickly into a Nor’easter late on Monday.

The blizzard warning is in effect from noon on Monday to 6 p.m. on Tuesday. Heavy snow could fall at rates of two to four inches per hour.

The brunt of the storm will hit Monday night. Secondary and tertiary roads may become impassable and strong winds may pull power lines and tree limbs down, according to the NWS.

Winds will be from the northeast at 15 to 20 miles per hour with gusts up to 30 miles per hour. Winds will switch to the north on Monday night at 20 to 30 miles per hour, with gusts as high as 40 to 50 miles per hour. The highest wind gusts will be on the coast.

“A blizzard warning means severe winter weather conditions are expected,” according to the NWS alert from Mount Holly. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds and poor visibilities are likely. This will lead to whiteout conditions, making travel extremely dangerous. Do not travel.”

Anyone who must travel should have a winter survival kit with them and make sure cell phones are fully charged. If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle, the NWS says.

The NWS has also issued a coastal flood watch from 11 p.m on Monday to 6 a.m. on Tuesday.