Just 10 days after the Jersey Shore was battered by Hurricane Sandy, a nor’easter storm is on its way to the east coast.
“It’s going to be a real nor’easter and it’s not going to have the punch Hurricane Sandy had,” city manager Terence Reidy said, “but … we’re looking at a possibility of 40 to 50 mile-per-hour winds.”
At a 4 p.m. Office of Emergency Management [OEM] meeting, Reidy and others participated in a conference call with Governor Chris Christie, who told local officials to take the nor’easter seriously.
Department of Public Works [DPW] workers have been “pulling as much as they can off the street” to prepare for the storm, Reidy said, and “making sure we have as few projectiles around town as possible.” Many residents have placed garbage in the street during Hurricane Sandy cleanup, all of which needs to be removed, Reidy said.
“We’ve been active since the Friday before [Hurricane Sandy],” Reidy said. “So we’re just continuing forward with the nor’easter coming in.”
School has been canceled for Thursday and Friday this week, Reidy said, and a council meeting planned for tomorrow night has been cancelled in case the storm is serious. City officials planned to discuss the hurricane at the meeting, but those officials will now possibly be needed to deal with the nor’easter, Reidy said.
City residents are advised to prepare for the storm by securing lawn or deck furniture and loose tree limbs on their property, Reidy said.
The National Weather Service predicts a slight chance of rain starting this evening with a northeast wind eight to 18 miles per hour, and a 20 percent chance of precipitation.
On Wednesday, the forecast is for rain before 4 p.m., then rain and snow, although little or no snow accumulation is expected, with a high near 44 degrees Fahrenheit. Wind is predicted, from 21 to 33 miles per hour with gusts as high as 55 miles per hour. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.
On Wednesday night, the forecast is for rain and snow with a low around 37 degrees Fahrenheit. North winds should be 31 to 36 miles per hour, decreasing to 23 to 28 miles per hour after midnight, with gusts as high as 55 miles per hour. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent, with new precipitation amounts been a quarter and a half of an inch possible.
On Thursday, rain and snow are likely before 10 a.m., followed by a chance of rain. Wind will slow to 22 miles per hour, with gusts as high as 34 miles per hour. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
