Full Notification

UPDATED: Jan. 21 7:00am
WEATHER BRIEFING / SNOW PLOW AND SALTING PROCEDURES / TEMPORARY PARKING PROHIBITION / POWER OUTAGE INFORMATION

Mayor Amato, the Township's Office of Emergency Management and the Division Of Streets and Roads and Police, would like residents to be aware of the following information from the National Weather Service, The Township's Snow Plowing and Salting procedures and the Township's Temporary Parking Prohibition:

Winter Storm Warning for Ocean, NJ
Issued by The National Weather Service
Philadelphia, PA
... WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 6 AM EST WEDNESDAY... ... WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 11 AM EST WEDNESDAY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOUNT HOLLY HAS ISSUED A WIND CHILL ADVISORY... WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 11 AM EST WEDNESDAY.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS... 8 TO 12 INCHES.

* TIMING... SNOW WILL OVERSPREAD THE AREA TOWARD MID TO LATE MORNING... THEN CONTINUE THROUGH THIS EVENING.

* IMPACTS... TRAVEL WILL BECOME HAZARDOUS DUE TO SNOW COVERED ROADS AND PERIODS OF VERY LOW VISIBILITY. AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WILL DEVELOP ESPECIALLY THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT. THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING RUSH HOUR WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED.

* WINDS... NORTHEAST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 TO 40 MPH, BECOMING NORTH AND NORTHWEST OVERNIGHT.

* TEMPERATURES... MAINLY IN THE TEENS TO 20S TODAY, THEN DROPPING TO THE SINGLE DIGITS TONIGHT.

* WIND CHILL... AS LOW AS 10 BELOW ZERO. THESE DANGEROUS VALUES CAN QUICKLY CAUSE FROSTBITE TO EXPOSED SKIN AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE EXPECTED. STRONG WINDS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WILL GREATLY REDUCE THE VISIBILITY ESPECIALLY IN OPEN AREAS LATER TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND TUESDAY NIGHT. THIS WILL RESULT IN SNOW BLOWING BACK ONTO PREVIOUSLY PLOWED ROADWAYS. USE EXTRA CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MEANS THAT VERY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS WILL COMBINE TO GENERATE LOW WIND CHILLS. THIS WILL RESULT IN FROST BITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN. IF YOU MUST VENTURE OUTDOORS... MAKE SURE YOU WEAR A HAT AND GLOVES.

More Information
... SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL EXPECTED TODAY AND TONIGHT FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY BITTERLY COLD AIR...

.A FAST MOVING BUT POTENT WEATHER SYSTEM WILL BRING SNOW TO OUR ENTIRE AREA TODAY INTO THIS EVENING. AS THE STORM STRENGTHENS TO OUR EAST LATER TODAY... THE WINDS WILL INCREASE RESULTING IN AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. AS THE STORM CONTINUES TO EXIT... BITTERLY COLD AIR WILL QUICKLY SETTLE IN TONIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY.


FROM THE DIVISION OF STREETS AND ROADS:

SNOW PLOW AND SALTING PROCEDURES
At the start of a snow storm, salt and sanding vehicles are dispatched in Berkeley Township. Major roadways are usually done first, followed by secondary roadways. After the snow has stopped and it has been determined that accumulations have exceeded 4" to 5", the Township will begin to snow plow. The Township will utilize approximately 70 pieces of Township equipment and approximately 30 contracted loaders for cul-de-sacs. All streets are opened curb to curb to insure the drains are opened. Sanding and salting operations continue as needed.

Each snowplow vehicle has been assigned a section to plow and will remain in that section until all roadways have been sufficiently cleaned. This may require the snowplow vehicle to make multiple passes on each street. Township forces will be plowing each street from curb to curb during each snowfall. On occasion, due to the lack of areas between the sidewalk and curb, sidewalks and driveway aprons may become covered with snow that falls off the snowplow blade.Township forces will not remove snow from any sidewalk or driveway apron in these instances. We regret this unfortunate inconvenience. At no time is snow to be disposed of into the street from the property, parking lots, driveways and sidewalks. All snow blowers should be directed to blow snow back onto the property.

After the streets are plowed and salted, snow deposited back into the roadway creates hazardous situations, causes additional plowing of the streets and blocking of parked vehicles and driveways after the original cleanup. Summonses could be issued for non-compliance. We want to thank everyone for complying with these requests and following the ordinances, rules and regulations of the Township of Berkeley. Any questions on these policies and procedures, Call Steven J. Seiler, Principal Public Works Manager At: 732-349-4616 or 732-341-1022. Or you can Email:[email protected]

FROM THE DIVISION OF POLICE:

Township Ordinance 7-8.3
Temporary Parking Prohibited for Snow Plowing and Removal.

Whenever snow has fallen and the accumulation is such that it covers the streets and highways, an emergency shall exist andno vehicle shall be parked on the streets or highways or portions thereof indicated. The parking prohibitions listed below shall remain in effect after the snow has ceased, until the streets have been plowed sufficiently and to the extent that parking will not interfere with the normal flow of traffic.

Any unoccupied vehicle parked or standing in violation shall be deemed a nuisance and a menace to the safe and proper regulation of traffic and any Police Officer may provide for the removal of such vehicle. The owner shall pay the reasonable costs of the removal and storage, which may result from such removal before regaining possession of the vehicle.

POWER OUTAGES:
If a power outage occurs as a result of the severe weather, customers should call 1-888-LIGHTSS(1-888-544-4877) to report their outage or click the “Report Outage” link onwww.firstenergycorp.com via smartphone.

In the event of downed utility wires, you should immediately report them to JCP&L at the number above or the Berkeley Township Police Department at 732-341-6600. Residents should never go near a downed power line, even if they think it is no longer carrying electricity.

For additional information and updates please visit www.berkeleytownship.org and turn on TV channel 22.

Thank you.