NJ Got Big-Time Ready For Snow – Even Though It Barely Snowed

By the looks of it, you would have thought that New Jersey was preparing for the most snow we've had since the nor'easter. Maybe schools would even close.

But it wasn't even close.

State Department of Transportation trucks treated many New Jersey roads on Wednesday since state officials, who took a lot of heat for their lackluster response during a recent nor'easter, said snow was forecasted in six counties.

Forecasters, however, are heckling the state now because the National Weather Service only predicted a very light dusting in Sussex County. No other rain – freezing or otherwise – was predicted in the state.

Some on social media say there was, indeed, a light dusting in Sussex County. But forecasters say there was no need to lay brine in six or more counties when the weather was dry.

"Your tax dollars literally down the drain," Gary Szatkowski, a former NWS meterologist, said on Twitter.

"This is terrible. Dangerous. Reckless. And WRONG," wrote Dan Zarrow, a meteorologist at 101.5.

Steve Schapiro, a DOT spokesman, said forecasts called for light snow in Sussex, Warren, Morris, Passaic, Hunterdon, and Somerset counties beginning before the morning commute, "which is what NJDOT prepared for."

"Part of our routine preparations includes a buffer zone in the event the inclement weather affects a greater area than expected, and in this case that included Bergen, Essex, Union, Hudson, Middlesex and Mercer counties," he said.

A number of people on social media were wondering if the state was overcompensating after not doing enough to clear the roadways during the Nov. 15 nor'easter, which sent cars spinning on highways and delayed drivers' commutes for hours.

Schapiro, however, said keeping New Jersey’s interstate and state highways safe "is NJDOT’s top priority."

"Even light amounts of snow, sleet, or freezing rain can cause black ice, slippery conditions, and dangerous conditions for driving," he said. "Brining is a cost effective method to proactively treat a road surface in anticipation of snow or freezing conditions. Brine helps prevent snow from bonding to the road as well as avoids icing conditions. Brine applied to dry road surfaces can last for several days in anticipation of inclement weather."

Some drivers said the brine disappeared soon after it was put down because the roads were too dry.

Photo courtesy of @NorEasterNick