Newark: The state of New Jersey has declared a state of emergency to cope with the winter storm. New Jersey Governor Mikey Cheryl declared a state of emergency across all 21 counties in preparation for what she described as an unusually dangerous and severe winter storm that hit Friday. Cheryl warned of widespread heavy snowfall, temperatures dropping to freezing point, and gusts of wind up to 48 kilometers per hour, and urged people to avoid traveling from Saturday evening through Sunday.
According to Thai News Agency, Cheryl said it had been quite a while since she had seen a storm like this, and while everyone was feeling strong, being prepared was essential for safety. She also announced restrictions on commercial traffic on interstate highways as a safety measure, stating the move was intended to prevent accidents that could delay rescue efforts and to avoid hindering snowplow operations.
The governor predicted the storm would bring 20-30 centimeters of snow to southern New Jersey and 30-45 centimeters to the north, with the highest snow accumulation expected in the northwest. The effects are projected to begin Saturday night and continue through Monday afternoon. A severe weather watch is already in place.
She emphasized that this wasn't a typical winter storm, but a type of storm not seen for almost a decade. This massive winter storm is moving eastward across the United States, bringing life-threatening cold, a risk of power outages, and icy roads that pose a danger to nearly half the country's population. As a result, more than 12 state governors have declared states of emergency.