The Ocean City Boardwalk is blanketed in snow next to the former Wonderland Pier amusement park and its towering Ferris wheel. (Photo courtesy of Robin Shaffer)
Shore towns and the rest of South Jersey got pummeled by heavy snow overnight, with thousands losing electricity.
Schools and government buildings were closed and flights grounded as Atlantic City International Airport got more than a foot of snow.
Blizzard conditions remained in effect until 6 p.m. Monday.
Several schools districts and government offices announced they will remain closed Tuesday, including Atlantic County.
More than 112,000 Atlantic City Electric customers experienced service interruptions during the storm, with approximately 50 percent of customers restored by late Monday afternoon.
As of 4 p.m., approximately 55,000 customers remained without service, with Cape May and Atlantic counties the most heavily impacted areas.
Customers without electricity should at least be able to get estimated restoration times.
Based on current assessments, many customers will be restored by Tuesday, with the vast majority of customers being restored by Thursday, according to a news release. Some customers in the most heavily damaged areas could require work into Saturday.
At the shore, a coastal flood advisory remains in effect until 5 p.m. Monday. Local police departments warned motorists not to leave their vehicles in flood-prone areas or to try to drive through stormwater.
Ocean City resident Robin Shaffer ventured out in the storm to look at the snow-covered Boardwalk and found it deserted.
“I was the only one,” Shaffer said. “It’s surreal. There was peace and quiet, except for the sound of the wind and waves.”
Figures reported Monday afternoon by the National Weather Service showed that many New Jersey towns received more than a foot of snow and some as much as 2 feet.
Freehold in Monmouth County got buried in 26.8 inches of snow, followed by Middletown at 25, Colts Neck at 24.1 and Howell at 24. In Ocean County, snowfall leaders included Bayville at 25.8 inches, Jackson at 25.2 and Lakewood at 24.
In Atlantic County, Mays Landing was the leader at 19 inches, Somers Point had 18.2, Egg Harbor Township had at 18, Atlantic City International Airport received 16.9 inches and Atlantic City got 14.
As of Monday afternoon, the weather service listed snow totals for only three municipalities in Cape May County. Ocean City had 16 inches, Lower Township 12.5, and North Wildwood at 8.7.
More than 12,000 customers in Atlantic County and 14,400 in Cape May County were without power among 54,352 Atlantic City Electric customers statewide left in the dark by the storm.
“You can help emergency crews do their jobs better by staying off the roadways and remaining safe indoors,” Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson said. “Also, consider charging all electronic devices now in preparation for possible power outages due to high winds and heavy snow, downed tree branches and utility lines.”
A statewide travel restriction for all non-emergency vehicles on state, county, municipal and interstate roadways was extended to noon Monday.
Violators may face penalties.
Atlantic County announced that Public Works crews were out on the roadways as of 5 a.m., continuing to salt and plow.
It will take some time to make roadways passable as light snow continues to fall, Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson said in asking for the public's patience and cooperation.
“The most helpful thing the public can do is to stay off the roadways and let crews do their jobs,” he said.
He noted there are also a number of downed tree branches from the heavy wet snow impeding plowing operations.
“For your own safety, please stay home until restrictions are lifted and it is safe to travel.”
Some in Atlantic City learned the hard way not to park on emergency routes that included Atlantic Avenue, with vehicles towed from those areas.
The city, along with help from Providence and Citywide Towing took 137 vehicles off the streets that are emergency routes, Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small told BreakingAC.
Small said residents were given several days of warning about not parking in these areas to allow for Public Works to clear the streets.
Those who were towed with be extended a courtesy this time.
The vehicles were taken to Bader Field, where a parking attendant is stationed.
There will be no charge to recover vehicles "this time," Small said. "Moving forward, people will be charged."
If a vehicle was towed for any other reason, it will be at the tow lot.
Gov. Mikie Sherrill declared a state of emergency over the weekend for all 21 counties to help prepare the state for the heavy snowfall, wind gusts of up to 60 mph and coastal flooding during the storm’s peak intensity.
The governor closed all state offices for Monday, including the New Jersey Superior Court. Atlantic County offices will also be closed on Monday.
All facilities at the Ocean City Community Center (Free Public Library, Aquatic & Fitness Center, Senior Center, Arts Center, Historical Museum), and the Ocean City Civic Center will be closed starting at 3 p.m. Sunday and will remain closed on Monday.
Weather updates and safety information are available at ready.nj.gov. The National Weather Service’s Philadelphia-Mount Holly office will provide storm updates at https://www.weather.gov/phi/
Those looking to dig out also are warned that this is "heart attack snow." That is described as heavy, wet and dense snow that makes shoveling extremely strenuous, especially for those with heart conditions and other health conditions.
Photo by Motii Viera
Many places roads remained unplowed.
