Nor'easter Storm Forecast In West Orange: What To Expect

This article was updated at 10 a.m. on Dec. 16.

WEST ORANGE, NJ — A “major" nor'easter is expected to impact West Orange on Wednesday, producing plowable snow or heavy rain and packing 35 to 55-mph winds.

The National Weather Service is now labeling the "major" system a "nor'easter" since it's expected to produce strong, sustained damaging winds and precipitation over a 24-hour period on Wednesday.

The storm will be fierce enough to knock down power lines and cause power outages and other damage, packing gale-force winds as strong as 35 to 55 mph across the state between 7 a.m. on Wednesday and 7 a.m. on Thursday, forecasters said. READ MORE: Nor'easter Winter Storm Watch Expands To 17 Counties

WEST ORANGE TOWNSHIP

In West Orange, officials warned local residents to "be prepared" in a social media advisory on Monday.

"All reports are calling for an intense winter storm this Wednesday into Thursday," the West Orange Police Department stated. "Let’s all be smart and make every conceivable effort to stay home and stay safe!"

Mayor Robert Parisi offered an additional advisory via email on Tuesday.

"We are expecting the first significant snowfall of the season with the forecast projecting as much as a foot of snow, or more, beginning early tomorrow afternoon," Parisi said.

The mayor offered some storm-related tips for West Orange residents:

• All residents with Wednesday morning garbage and recycling pickup should place all material at the curb this evening as collection will begin earlier than usual tomorrow to allow time to complete pickup prior to the arrival of the snow. It is likely that Thursday’s morning pickup will be cancelled and residents should look for updates tomorrow.
• The commuter jitney will operate for the morning commute but riders should look for updates during the day as the storm may require Wednesday afternoon, as well as Thursday’s routes, to be canceled.
• All power outages should be reported to PSE&G by calling 1-800-436-7734 or by texting OUT…O-U-T…to 47734.
• For updates during the storm check out the township website at www.westorange.org or the township’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/westorangeinfo

"We remind all residents to stay home and off the roads once the snow fall begins," Parisi said. "If possible, please do not park on municipal roads as parked cars make it more difficult to clear the streets. Be patient … it will take time to properly clear the roads from this storm."

Some West Orange businesses, such as Bagels By Jarrett, have already started to make plans for a stormy week.

"As of now we are open Wednesday, closed Thursday, and open Friday, Saturday and Sunday," the business stated.

WEST ORANGE SCHOOLS

In the West Orange Public School District, superintendent Scott Cascone offered the community an update on the current "inclement weather" policy. Read the full message here.

Cascone wrote:

"As we enter the winter season, we must prepare for the possibility of inclement weather and understand the situations that may affect daily schedules. Once the hybrid cohort begins, should it be necessary to close the buildings due to inclement weather, the notification will be distributed using the standard protocol via School Messenger and social media as we can easily go from in-person learning to fully remote instruction for unsafe weather conditions. Due to the circumstances this year, our District will not conduct a delayed opening schedule for inclement weather and in the event the conditions prevent access to our buildings, the virtual instruction day will take place as scheduled. Whether in hybrid or virtual, our ability to provide instruction is dependent on power and internet service. Therefore it is prudent to reserve the 3 emergency days for these contingencies. In the case where snow accumulation would typically warrant a delayed start, we now will simply transfer to fully remote learning. Until such time and while instruction is being done virtually, the notification will be addressed for faculty and staff with the recommendation to instruct from home."

COUNTY ROADS

Live on a county-maintained road in West Orange? Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. and Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura asked that residents refrain from parking on those streets from Wednesday to Thursday.

The pair of officials stated:

“Keeping the roads open will make it easier to remove snow and enable public works crews to plow from curb to curb. Weather forecasts indicate a significant snowstorm will arrive Wednesday afternoon and continue through Thursday morning. The heavy snow may cause tree limbs and electrical to break.”

DiVincenzo and Fontoura warned residents to not touch live wires or drive near them.

ACROSS NEW JERSEY

State officials said they have more than 400 pieces of road equipment available to make the roads safe, even though fewer people are taking to the roads because of the coronavirus outbreak.

AccuWeather is saying the system could be the "most significant winter storm in several years," one that could potentially become highly impactful and disruptive as the first round of coronavirus vaccines continue to be shipped around the country.

AccuWeather is warning of major disruptions to travel and even travel shutdowns, as well as shipping delays, school closings and power outages from this "blockbuster storm," – even though a number of New Jersey school districts have said they'll opt to go remote instead of closing.

Their weather forecast includes:

• Wednesday: Snow and/or rain, mainly after 1 p.m. High near 28. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.
• Wednesday night: Snow and/or rain. The snow could be heavy at times. Low around 22. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New snow accumulation of two to 14 inches possible.
• Thursday: A chance of snow before 8 a.m., then a chance of snow showers, mainly between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 29. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.
• Thursday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16.

This article contains reporting by Tom Davis, Patch staff

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