UPDATE: Power Outages Linger, Roads Clearing In New Jersey Following Thanksgiving Eve Nor'easter

New Jersey was recovering from a pre-Thanksgiving nor’easter that still had thousands without power on Thursday.

JCP&L reported that 5,175 customers in Morris County, 1,454 in Ocean County and 7,191 in Sussex were experiencing outages Thursday.

The New Jersey State Police reported more than 200 accidents on New Jersey roads on Wednesday. “Don’t become a statistic,” the State Police said on its Facebook page. “Buckle up and go slow, if you have to go at all.”

A 55-year-old Woodbridge woman was killed Wednesday morning in a head-on collision with another driver that nj.com reported to be weather-related.

The storm prompted Governor Chris Christie to declare a state of emergency, and forced Thanksgiving travelers to deal with Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike speed restrictions.

Some areas - such as Morris and Sussex counties - reported getting as much as 7 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service. Other areas dealt with a heavy rain-and-snow mix that made roads slick and dangerous.

“Today’s storm is expected to produce travel hazards and potentially cause power outages throughout the state,” Christie sad in a statement. “I’ve authorized state officials to take all necessary action to prepare, and my administration will continue monitoring conditions throughout the remainder of the storm.”

South Brunswick Police urged motorists to use extra caution as the road conditions deteriorated during Wednesday afternoon.

The storm changed to snow just after 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, police said. There were more than a dozen motor vehicle accidents between 12 noon and 2:30 p.m. in South Brunswick alone, police said.

The majority of accidents were minor: fender benders or vehicles skidding off the roadway, police said.

A speed restriction was imposed on the Garden State Parkway in both directions from Garden State Parkway on Wednesday from the Monmouth Service Area in Wall to the New York State line. Motorists were to keep at 45 mph due to roadway conditions. A salting operation was in progress.

A speed restriction also was imposed on the New Jersey Turnpike in both directions on Wednesday from the Delaware Memorial Bridge to the George Washington Bridge, limiting motorists to 45 mph. Those restrictions now appear to be lifted.

In Princeton, Mercer Street was reduced to one lane Wednesday because of an accident as road conditions deteriorated in Princeton.

Also:

• As much as 7 inches had fallen in Morris and Sussex counties by 3 p.m. Wednesday, and some Facebook users were posting pictures of snowmen.
• Ramapo College and William Paterson University closed as communities dug into their supplies of road salt, ready to deal with possible snowfall amounts varying from 10 inches in Sussex County to less than 1 inch in Ocean County.
• The National Weather Service noted that precipitation southeast of Interstate 95 in South Jersey and in eastern Pennsylvania would begin as rain, and then change to all snow during the afternoon and into Wednesday evening.
• The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey reported that Newark Liberty International Airport air carriers were waiving fees to people impacted by the weather, suggesting that travelers contact their carriers for information.

More nor’easter coverage:

• Nor’easter: Strong Winds, Outages, Snow And Rain Begin At Morning Rush
• A Dozen Accidents In 2 Hours In South Brunswick
• AAA Offers Winter Driving Tips as Winter Storm Approaches
• Airlines at Newark Airport to Waive Fees for Changing Flights During Thanksgiving Snowstorm
• Nor’easter Threat Closes William Paterson University In Wayne
• Brick May Not Get Snow, But Town Is Ready
• Road Crew Ready for Nor’easter Bringing Up To 9 Inches of Snow to Long Valley
• ADVISORY: Winter Storm Warning In Effect For Westfield, Parking Restrictions Enforced
• Nor’easter Now Expected For New Jersey On Thanksgiving Eve
• Coastal Storm Still Expected To Hit New Jersey Wednesday, Thanksgiving