Newark Public Schools in Focus as Nor'easter and Blizzard Drop Nearly 20 Inches Across New Jersey
A powerful nor'easter and a separate blizzard left roughly 20 inches of heavy, wet snow in parts of New Jersey, forcing residents to dig out, cutting power to thousands and triggering school and municipal closures; newark public schools.
The scale of the storms matters now because the weight and rapid accumulation of snow has compounded utility and road-clearance challenges and pushed districts and officials to extend closures and emergency measures.
Development details
Mount Holly saw about 20 inches of snow from the nor'easter, while Montclair recorded nearly 20 inches in the blizzard that began Sunday afternoon. High winds accompanied both systems, contributing to downed tree limbs and power lines that blocked roads — including part of the Mount Holly bypass — and caused thousands of outages statewide.
State and local responses moved quickly: a statewide travel ban that began overnight was lifted at 12 p. m. Monday in areas affected by the nor'easter; in Montclair, mandatory travel restrictions that had begun at 9: 00 p. m. Sunday were also lifted by Monday afternoon. At the peak of response operations in Burlington County, roughly 70 trucks were engaged in snow clearance.
Utilities and elected officials provided progress markers. Crews restored power to more than 250, 000 customers and set a target to get everyone back online within 24 to 48 hours, a timeline announced by Governor Mikie Sherrill. Still, Burlington County reported about 12, 000 customers without power as of Monday afternoon, and some communities opened shelters for residents without heat.
Context and escalation
The heavier, wetter snow distinguished this event from an earlier storm. County Commissioner Allison Eckel pointed to the storm’s intensity and the rapid accumulation as complicating factors: wet snow falling quickly increased limb and line failures and made plowing slower because utility crews had to prioritize restoring power. That same pressure limited some plowing operations while crews worked on downed lines.
In Montclair, local the storm exceeded earlier forecasts and disrupted municipal services. NJ Transit had train, bus and Access Link service suspended as of Monday afternoon, and township leaders extended a no-street-parking order through 8 a. m. Wednesday to allow plow crews to clear roads fully.
Immediate impact
The storms affected daily life across the state. Road conditions were hazardous early in the day, and officials warned that drivers unfamiliar with winter conditions faced elevated risk. Garbage and recycling collection in Montclair scheduled for Tuesday was canceled, and municipal offices there opened on a delayed schedule at 10 a. m.
Montclair Public Schools and offices remained closed for an additional day; the district adjusted its calendar so that Monday, March 30, 2026 will be a regular school day to meet required instructional time. Municipal guidance urged residents not to clear curb cuts until plows finish multiple passes, recommended a ‘snow pocket’ clearing method to avoid reburial of driveways, and advised shoveling smaller amounts more frequently to reduce injury risk.
Power interruptions had immediate human consequences: fallen branches and lines cut heat and electricity for extended periods, prompting shelters to open. Mount Holly residents described heavy, wet snow that made shoveling and even snowblower use difficult, while high winds worsened conditions and increased cleanup time.
Community leaders provided specific response steps: those experiencing outages could report them to utilities, and local police departments were the point of contact for information about shelters and emergency services.
Forward outlook
Officials outlined clear near-term milestones. Utility crews aimed to restore remaining outages within a 24- to 48-hour window, and plow operations continued under no-parking orders in affected municipalities through early Wednesday to complete road clearing. Towns will assess makeup schedules for canceled services and consider calendar adjustments to preserve required instructional days where school closures occurred.
What makes this notable is the combination of rapid accumulation and heavy moisture: that mix increases strain on trees and power lines and slows routine plowing, producing cascading impacts on travel, utilities and municipal services. Residents are being asked to stay off roads while crews work and to follow local guidance about snow removal and shelter options as recovery continues.
