Crime & Safety

Nor'easter Hits; Worst Storm Since Sandy Impacts Holiday Travel

The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory until 10 a.m. Wednesday, and has urged motorists and homeowners to exercise caution.

A nor'easter is dumping heavy rainfall, and bringing 50-mph wind gusts and the threat of moderate flooding to Camden County as the community braces for possibly the worst storm since Superstorm Sandy.

The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory until 10 a.m. Wednesday, and has urged motorists and homeowners to exercise caution.

The storm is not expected to be on the same level of the hurricane-like disaster that destroyed much of the Jersey Shore and South Jersey last year. But heavy rainfall is expected, with amounts of two to four inches possible.

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Rain from this system is expected to be spread over a 36-hour period, so river flooding is not expected, but ocean flooding is possible, according to police departments throughout the region.

However, roadway and poor draining flooding is likely, and significant rises can be expected on quicker responding streams, with minor flooding still a possibility on a few on them. Wind gusts will be persist through Tuesday night into Wednesday evening.

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State Department of Transportation officials prepared by having crews put brine down on highways as a precaution against freezing roads, and workers have cleared drains and inlets to prevent road flooding, said Timothy Greeley, NJDOT spokesman, according to Gannett NJ.

New Jersey Turnpike officials are expecting 7 million travelers to use the Garden State Parkway over the six-day holiday period and 3.6 million to use the Turnpike and have prepared for bad weather, which could include using plows to push standing flood water, according to Gannett NJ.

Residents are urged to secure or bring indoors all items that could become projectiles in the strong winds. This would include trash and recycling cans along with certain holiday decorations. 

Some minor tidal flooding could occur at times of high tide on Wednesday. It is recommended that bay front and lagoon residents monitor tidal conditions on Wednesday and take any action necessary to protect property. 

At this time, no winter weather conditions are anticipated for most of New Jersey as this storm will be mainly rain. Ice and snow are possible in the higher elevations of Pennsylvania and extreme northwestern New Jersey. For the urban areas of New York City, Philadelphia and Baltimore, this will be a rainstorm. However, this storm will produce significant delays for holiday travelers, regardless of mode of transportation. 

Sunny, cool and windy weather is forecasted for Thanksgiving Day and the balance of the extended holiday weekend.

Some snow is possible with this storm, especially in the higher elevations of eastern Pennsylvania and northwestern New Jersey. Snowfall totals are expected to be under 2 inches.

Minor coastal flooding is still possible with this storm. This includes the Delaware Bay and Delaware River and the Chesapeake Bay. The high tides to watch are the ones on Wednesday.

The timing of this storm has impacted Thanksgiving holiday travel.  Travel conditions will deteriorate as strong onshore winds and rain move into the region.  These conditions will persist into daytime Wednesday, improving later Wednesday night.


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