Posted on behalf of the Ocean Township Office of Emergency Management
Chief Michal Rogalski
Emergency Management Coordinator
[email protected]
Statement prepared by:
Cpl. Nicholas McGavin
Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator
[email protected]
This briefing reflects key forecast adjustments since the prior update, with important implications for Ocean Township operations.
Ocean Township Forecast Update (Changes from Prior Briefing):
* Snowfall totals for Ocean Township are trending downward, with current guidance generally indicating approximately 6–8 inches. While totals have decreased slightly, overall impacts remain significant due to storm duration and mixing.
* Confidence has increased that mixing will occur Sunday afternoon into Sunday evening, limiting higher snow totals but increasing sleet and freezing rain potential.
* The highest ice accumulation corridor continues to trend toward southern New Jersey, placing Ocean Township closer to the area of concern. While confidence remains low on exact placement, ice accretion of up to approximately 0.25 inches remains possible.
* If ice accumulation approaches 0.25 inches in addition to 6 inches or more of snow, there is an elevated risk for tree damage, downed wires, and power disruptions, particularly given existing ground conditions.
* Wind will be a critical factor with this event. Any sustained or gusting winds exceeding 40 mph are a known trigger point for JCP&L crew safety restrictions, which could delay power restoration efforts if outages occur.
* Travel conditions are still expected to deteriorate rapidly late Saturday night through Sunday, with hazardous and potentially impassable roadways, especially during periods of sleet and freezing rain.
* Following the storm, a prolonged stretch of dangerous cold will persist through much of next week, slowing snow and ice melt and increasing the risk of black ice and extended response challenges.
Ocean Township OEM continues to monitor conditions closely and coordinate with Ocean County and surrounding jurisdictions. While snow totals are trending lower, the combination of ice, wind, and prolonged cold remains the primary operational concern at this time. EOC posture and resource needs will continue to be reassessed as conditions evolve.
Additional updates will be distributed as new briefings are released.
