UPDATE: 'Damon' Slams New Jersey: Nor'easter Floods Roads, Knocks Out Power

Winter Storm Damon slammed New Jersey Tuesday, pushing a steady mix of wind, snow and rain that flooded coastal and inland areas, causing power outages and making for a nightmarish commute.

Flooding closed roads in Long Beach Island, Point Pleasant Beach and Princeton, and more than 1,000 were without power in Moorestown, Ocean City and elsewhere.

More flooding was possible as high tide was expected to arrive around 10 p.m. on Tuesday. Seas were expected to rise as high as 12 feet.

As high tide came in the morning, flooding was stopping cars in their tracks in Essex County, Hoboken and North Bergen. Trees were down and some outages were also reported in Sussex County and elsewhere. Heavy rain continued to fall in Essex and Bergen counties going into the evening.

NJ Transit was offering full systemwide cross-honoring for the entire service day Tuesday, enabling customers to use their ticket or pass on an alternate travel mode - rail, bus or light rail.

The National Weather Service also has released a winter weather advisory for western Passaic County and Bergen County, citing freezing rain that will make for icy conditions.

The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory beginning at 4 a.m. and running until 4 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office.

A coastal flood warning in New Jersey took effect Tuesday morning and will last through Tuesday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service’s Mount Holly office.

Police throughout the state warned motorists against driving on flooded roads. In one tweet, the Ocean Township police (#OTPD) showed a picture of car stuck in a flooded roadway and said: “Another example of, ’if it’s predictable, it’s preventable’ Please stop driving into flooded roadways.”

About 4.3 million people are under winter storm warnings since the nor’easter is expected to dump two feet of snow in western New York, 18 inches in New Hampshire and 6 inches in northern New Jersey, according to The Weather Channel.

As much as two inches of rain will fall on the Jersey Shore and the New York City, Philadelphia and Boston metropolitan areas, compelling the National Weather Service to issue flood and wind watches for the coastal areas.

The storm will slowly churn up the coast, dumping rain and wet snow that will be ”heavy enough to bring down the trees and power lines,” said Ari Sarsalari, a meteorologist on The Weather Channel.

The storm is expected to last until Thursday, producing snow in the northwestern and southwestern portions of New Jersey, and a snow-and-rain mix for the coastal and northeastern portions (see picture from The Weather Channel).

The Weather Channel reports that areas hard-hit by Superstorm Sandy two years ago may be among “the first to face Damon’s fury,” since Tuesday morning’s high tide could bring significant coastal flooding.

According to the National Weather Service:

• Snowfall amounts of 6 inches or greater are possible through Tuesday night in the Poconos, in addition to some light icing. Lesser amounts are forecast for northwestern New Jersey.
• Rainfall of greater than 2 inches are possible. Some of the rain could be locally heavy, especially on Tuesday, which could cause flooding of small streams, in urban areas and on road surfaces.
• Northeasterly winds are forecast to increase to 10 to 20 mph on Tuesday with gusts to 25 or 30 mph possible, especially closer to the coast. Depending on the track of the storm, the wind could be stronger.
• Wind-driven heavy rains and wave action will exacerbate the potential for beach erosion Tuesday. Tidal flooding could cause some road closures, according to the National Weather Service. Expect road closures at high tide on Tuesday.
• The seas are expected to rise to 10 to 15 feet on Tuesday.

Other stories on Patch:

• Death Of Brick Woman, Sons In Plane Crash Sends Shockwaves Through Community
• Five Indicted in Heroin and Meth Distribution Ring
• WATCH: Truck Driver Escapes Fatal I-78 Crash By Crawling Through Fiery Windshield
• Infant, Four Others Killed In Essex County, N.J. House Fire
• Toll Hikes Take Effect: Going To NYC Costs More