New Jersey Gov. Declares State of Emergency in Preparation for Nor’easter Storm

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy holds a news conference regarding the COVID-19 cases at the War Memorial in Trenton, N.J. on April 11, 2020. Chris Pedota/The Record via AP, Pool

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy declared on Monday evening that the region will enter a state of emergency, effective 8 p.m., in preparation for the impacts of a nor’easter.

Murphy urged for residents of all 21 counties in the Garden State to stay off the roads, remain vigilant, follow safety protocols, ensure devices are fully charged, report outages, and to look out for downed power lines. The state of emergency declaration will allow local officials to mobilize resources and potentially request disaster aid.

“The anticipated nor’easter storm is forecasted to bring significant flash flooding, coastal flooding, and wind gusts across New Jersey,” Murphy said in a statement. “Residents should stay off the roads, remain vigilant, and follow all safety protocols.”

A nor'easter is an East Coast storm fueled by winds from the northeast. According to AccuWeather, it is the first nor'easter to impact the region this season.

“In preparation for the nor’easter, I’m declaring a State of Emergency beginning at 8:00 p.m. tonight. Severe weather conditions will impact the state starting tonight through the next several days,” the Democratic governor added on Twitter, noting that the majority of the state is under a flash flood watch through Tuesday.

Roughly four to six inches of rainfall is expected across the state, with much of the rain forecast to hit the state on Monday night through much of the day on Tuesday.

“An early-season tempest could bring a wind-driven, chilly rain to portions of the Northeast from Monday through Wednesday,” AccuWeather meteorologist Randy Adkins said, noting that southern New England could see flooding.

News 12 New Jersey Meteorologist Dave Curren meanwhile forecast that the majority of rainfall will be seen in the state early Tuesday between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. Strong winds may down utility poles and break tree branches, he said.

Following the state of emergency declaration, Paterson Public Schools announced that schools and offices will be shut on Tuesday, and that there will be no in-person classes or remote teaching. All after school recreation activities, transportation, and testing scheduled for Tuesday are cancelled, it said.

The National Weather Service has also issued a flash flood watch for New York City though 5 p.m. on Tuesday. Separately, the New York City Emergency Management issued a travel advisory through Tuesday afternoon.

“We know how quickly these storms can escalate, so everyone, especially those living in basement apartments, should plan accordingly,” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement on Twitter on Monday evening.

“This event may cause flooding in the city, including on highways, streets, underpasses, as well as other poor drainage or low-lying spots,” said NYC Emergency Management Incoming Acting Commissioner Andrew D'Amora. “New Yorkers should give themselves additional travel time and take the appropriate precautions if they must move about the city during the storm.”

According to AccuWeather, the nor’easter could potentially become a bomb cyclone. This occurs when a storm strengthens and undergoes a period of rapid intensification known as bombogenesis.

Toward the end of last week and over the weekend, the west coast was struck by two similar storms that developed in the northern Pacific.