NJ Weather: 'Bomb Cyclone' Hits: Updates, Snow Totals

New Jersey was getting walloped Thursday by a blizzard that could be the biggest the state has seen in years. The "bomb cyclone" also was causing flooding and shutting down roads, and at least one county imposed a travel ban.

The National Weather Service's blizzard warnings remained in effect while the state was dealing with a number of crashes as the snow began to pile up. The State Police responded to 159 motor vehicle crashes and 285 motorist aids by 1 p.m. Aids can be anything from spinouts, flat tires to mechanical breakdowns. (see list below).

At least 16 inches had fallen in some areas of New Jersey by mid-day. Read more: New Jersey Snow Totals, Town-By-Town - 1/4/18

A number of school districts were already closing for Friday, preparing for a deep freeze that is supposed to take place throughout the state. Wind chill temperatures could reach 5-below-zero. Read more: New Jersey School Closings/Delays List - 1/5/18

Gov. Chris Christie declared a state of emergency in Cape May, Atlantic, Ocean and Monmouth Counties. All state offices will now be closed. "Please stay off the roads and stay sheltered and warm," he said.

A major accident also was reported on the New Jersey Turnpike in Middlesex County:

A travel ban was declared in Atlantic County, allowing only essential personnel on the roads. Cars were getting stuck in Brigantine and near the casinos in the north end of Atlantic City. Here is the alert:

Cape May County was warning drivers to stay away from a bridge:

As the blizzard continues to bear down on Ocean County and surrounding areas, local authorities were expressing frustration at motorists who are not staying off the roads.

"Blizzard warning remains in effect as conditions continue to deteriorate," the Toms River Office of Emergency Management said in a Nixle alert at noon. "Please remain indoors and refrain from driving unless necessary." Read more here: Stay Off The Roads, Ocean County Authorities Plead

Schools closed before the first flakes even fell in what's being called a "bomb cyclone," and New Jersey is getting more of than expected. The storm is shaped like, and as powerful as a hurricane, and the state is getting the outer bands of it.

More than 1,000 power outages were reported in Monmouth County, nearly all of them in Keansburg. In Atlantic County, there were 770 outages, nearly all of them in Egg Harbor Township.

More than 70 percent of flights at Newark Airport scheduled for Thursday were cancelled. At LaGuardia Airport, the travel situation was even worse, with more than 90 percent of flights canceled, and at JFK Airport, 20 percent didn't take off due to the weather, the Port Authority of NY/NJ stated. Read more here: Weather Cancels Droves Of Flights At Newark, JFK, LaGuardia

Here are the National Weather Service's new projections:

A blizzard warning is in effect for the Jersey Shore. A winter storm warning is in effect for Central and South Jersey and now in Bergen, Passaic, Union and Hudson counties, while a winter weather advisory is in effect elsewhere in North Jersey, according to the National Weather Service. The warnings are in effect until 7 p.m. Thursday.

Here are the alerted areas:

Police are reporting that driving conditions are quite bad out there, and so far there have been at least two crashes Thursday morning in South Brunswick. Read more: Rollover Crash In South Brunswick Thursday Morning.

Indeed, South Brunswick roads have become very, very bad, police announced around 12:30 p.m. Thursday, and many have actually become impassable due to the snow. Read more: Many Roads In South Brunswick Now Impassable

Roads were getting slippery in North Jersey, too. Several car crashes were reported in Wayne Thursday morning as snow covers the roadways. Read more: Snowstorm Causes Several Car Crashes On Wayne Roads: Police

A disabled tractor-trailer on Interstate 287 South near Skyline Drive in Oakland has closed the left and center lanes. Read more: Disabled Tractor-Trailer Closes Part Of I-287 In Oakland

As the snow continues to pile up, the roads have been getting more and more dangerous, forcing the closure of Route 10 in Parsippany. Read more: Snow Closes Rt. 10 In Parsippany

At 9:33 a.m. a car spun out on I-287 northbound, just north of Exit 3 in Morristown. Read more: Lane Blocked On I-287 After Car Spins Out Near Morristown

Numerous cars were getting stuck on the New Jersey Turnpike.

Flooding was reported in these areas.

• NJ 36: Flooding on NJ 36 in both directions from south of CR 520/Rumson Rd in Sea Bright to North of Bay Ave in Highlands. All lanes closed; use caution.
• NJ 35: Flooding on NJ 35 southbound south of NJ 71/H Street in Belmar. Right lane closed; use caution.
• NJ 36: Flooding on NJ 36 in both directions area of Sandy Hook in Sea Bright. One lane may be closed.
• US 40: Flooding on US 40 in both directions between CR 629/West End Ave. in Atlantic City and CR 585/Main St in Pleasantville. One to 2 lanes closed use caution.
• NJ 147: Flooding on NJ 147 in both directions East of W. Anglesea Dr in North Wildwood. One to 2 lanes closed use caution.

Here is the list of accidents and traffic conditions on New Jersey roads:

• Speed restriction: Ben Franklin Bridge in both directions between New Jersey side in Camden and Pennsylvania side in Philadelphia og 35 miles per hour.
• Speed restriction: Walt Whitman Bridge in both directions between New Jersey side in Gloucester City and Pennsylvania side in Philadelphia of 25 miles per hour.
• Speed restriction: Commodore Barry Bridge in both directions between New Jersey side and Pennsylvania side in Logan Twp of 25 miles per hour.
• Speed restriction: Betsy Ross Bridge in both directions between New Jersey side in Pennsauken Twp and Pennsylvania side in Philadelphia of 25 miles per hour.
• Speed restriction: Garden State Parkway in both directions from Southern Terminus/CR 109 in Cape May to New York state line in Montvale of 35 miles per hour due to roadway conditions, until further notice.
• Speed restriction: New Jersey Turnpike in both directions from Delaware Memorial Bridge in Pennsville Twp to George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee of 35 miles per hour due to roadway conditions.
• Speed restriction: Outerbridge Crossing in both directions between New Jersey side in Perth Amboy and New York side in Staten Island of 25 miles per hour.
• Speed restriction: Goethals Bridge in both directions from New York side in Staten Island to New Jersey side in Elizabeth of 25 MPH.
• Accident: I-80 westbound East of Exit 4 - NJ 94/US 46 in Knowlton Twp. Left lane closed; 5-10 minute delay.
• Accident: Garden State Parkway inner roadway southbound north of Toms River Toll Plaza in Toms River Twp. Left lane blocked.
• Accident: New Jersey Turnpike - Western Spur toll plaza outside entry Interchange 15W - I-280 in Kearny. One lane blocked.
• Jack-knifed tractor trailer: I-287 northbound South of Exit 57 - Skyline Drive in Oakland. Left and center lanes closed.
• Vehicle off the roadway: NJ 73 northbound at CR 673/Fellowship Rd in Mount Laurel Twp. Right turn lane blocked; use caution.
• Vehicle spun out: I-195 eastbound east of Exit 22 - CR 638 in Jackson Twp. Left lane blocked; use caution.
• Vehicle spun out: I-78 cross over ramp eastbound ramp to Exit 56 - Elizabeth Ave in Newark. Ramp closed and detoured.
• Disabled tractor trailer: I-676 southbound at Exit 3 - Morgan Blvd in Camden. Partial ramp blocked; use caution.
• Accident : New Jersey Turnpike inner roadway northbound South of Interchange 9 - NJ 18 in Milltown. Left lane blocked.
• Accident: New Jersey Turnpike northbound inside entry Interchange 11 - Garden State Parkway in Woodbridge Twp. Left lane blocked.
• Accident: New Jersey Turnpike outer roadway southbound South of Interchange 11 - Garden State Parkway in Woodbridge Twp. Left lane and shoulder blocked.
• Downed pole : US 22 eastbound CR 577/Springfield Ave in Springfield Twp. All lanes closed and detoured 5-10 minute delay.
• Disabled tractor trailer: Disabled tractor trailer on the New Jersey Turnpike - Eastern Spur outside entry Interchange 16E - NJ 3/Lincoln Tunnel in Secaucus. Ramp blocked.
• Accident: New Jersey Turnpike outer roadway southbound north of Interchange 12 - Carteret-Rahway in Carteret. Right lane blocked.
• Overturned Truck : NJ 17 northbound area of Allendale Av in Saddle River. 1 to 2 lanes closed.
• Accident: US 9 southbound approaching Edison Bridge in Sayreville/Woodbridge. Right lane and shoulder closed.
• Disabled tractor trailer: NJ 17 northbound ramp to Century Rd in Paramus. Partial ramp closed.
• Disabled tractor trailer: NJ 53 southbound area of NJ 10 in Morris Plains. Right lane closed.

Wildwood police photo