Winter Storm Fern is heading our way this weekend and is expected to deliver heavy snow from Saturday night into Sunday night, mixing with sleet by Sunday evening, according to the latest estimates from The National Weather Service. Most models show 8 to 14 inches of snow across New Jersey, starting around sunrise on Sunday. There will be considerably frigid temps into Monday and throughout next week.
“Make a plan to stay home. Make a plan to catch up on your reading. Watch the football. Play some board games with your kids. But this is a good weekend to stay in and off the roads,” Governor Mikie Sherrill said in a message on X, declaring a State of Emergency starting at 5 pm Saturday. “We are prepared here in New Jersey but what we need you to do is be prepared as well. Prepare to stay home and make a plan to stay off the roads.”
Here’s what to keep in mind as you prep your home, your car and your kids for what lies ahead:
HOME PREP
Check fridge and freezer settings. Turn your appliances to their coldest setting, and put a thermometer in both the fridge and freezer to monitor temperatures during an outage. If you lose power, here’s a simple way to know whether your food has spoiled: place a cup of water in the freezer and freeze it solid, then set a coin on top. If the power goes out and the water melts, the coin will sink. If you later find the coin frozen inside the cup, the food may have thawed too long and should be thrown out.
Power up electronics. Charge everything you can, and keep devices plugged in: phones, computers, tablets, power banks, etc. Keep battery-powered backups – like flashlights and radios – with extra batteries on hand.
Be ready in case of an emergency. Put together a first aid kit, and make sure all medications are refilled. Write down important phone numbers in case your phone dies and you can use a neighbor’s phone or a landline. Remember to check in on your elderly neighbors.
Check your home’s infrastructure. Know where your breaker box and water shut-off valves are located. Fill your water heater with hot water, and run the hot water prior to when the storm hits. Look for any drafts and keep cold air out by putting a blanket, rug or even towel by any cracks. To avoid pipes from freezing, run the faucets periodically, and keep cabinet doors open to let warm air in. Fill your bathtub, or water bottles, in case you need to wash your hands or flush the toilet in the event of a power outage. If you have a generator, make sure it’s up and ready to go.
Check your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors – keeping in mind that portable generators, stoves, dryers, furnaces, and other fuel-burning appliances and equipment, including space heaters and cars, can cause CO2 poisoning. If you feel sick (headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain and confusion) contact the New Jersey Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) immediately; if someone is unconscious, not breathing, seizing or hard to wake, call 9-1-1.
Check your backyard. Keep outdoor furniture secured, as well as anything that could blow away or into the house if there is wind. Park your car away from any trees or power lines, if possible. Trim any hanging tree limbs prior to the storm.
CAR/ROAD PREP
Fill up your tank ahead of the storm.
Be wary of dangerous road conditions. Stay off the roads, especially if there’s a State of Emergency in effect. Back roads are often the last to be plowed, and a recent survey by RVWindshieldReplacement.com says the three roads in New Jersey you should absolutely avoid during the winter are:
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- I-80 from Parsippany to the Delaware Water Gap (because of the higher elevation, snow and ice stick to the roadway).
- Route 23 from Wayne at the New York border to The Highlands (there are narrow lanes and curves that are prone to icy patches, even during freezing rain, and especially during peak daytime hours).
- Garden State Parkway from Woodbridge to Montvale (a highly trafficked road with tight merges that becomes stressful in poor weather).
Be prepared in case you must drive. Keep essentials in your car – AAA card, extra coats and blankets in case you get stuck, hand warmers, flares, cell phone chargers, jumper cables, a spare tire and jack, a flashlight, a snowbrush/ice scraper, and even snacks and water bottles (pack your Yeti to keep hot drinks hot). Also, contrary to popular belief, do not put your windshield wipers up, because it can damage the blades.
Be aware of the salt shortage. There have been many reports that the State of New Jersey, local hardware stores and supermarkets are running out of their supplies of salt. Plan ahead, or keep sand on hand as a backup. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection offers guidelines on using rock salt.
COLLEGE PREP
If your teen is away at school, offer these tips so they can get through the weekend without your physical help, as suggested by The Dorm Guide:
Subscribe to campus weather and security alerts (and also to find out if you have a snow day from class)
Encourage them to do all of their laundry now in case the power goes out.
Tell them to park their car in a covered area if possible.
Keep up with the buddy system, so no one is outside alone.
RESOURCES
Keep a battery-powered radio nearby in case your power and WiFi go out. If you are able to access the internet, check these websites for updates throughout the storm:
- Widespread storm information from the National Weather Service
- Current weather and traffic updates from the State of New Jersey Office of Emergency Management (including OEM’s Facebook page)
- Storm resources and updates from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
- New Jersey Code Blue has a list of warming centers.
- Radio station weather updates across New Jersey
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Read More:
These Are the Best Spots to Go Sledding in New Jersey
The Best Snow Tubing Spots in the New Jersey Area
Where to Go Snowshoeing in New Jersey
