The first snowfall of the new year blanketed South Jersey on Monday, closing schools, turning roads slick and creating a winter wonderland a day or two after many people packed away their holiday decorations.
Up to 8 inches was predicted for parts of Cape May County, and Atlantic County was forecast to receive 4 to 6 inches.
That mark was already eclipsed by midday in parts of the region, including Cape May Point, where 8.1 inches had fallen as of 1 p.m., and Ventnor, where 7 inches had fallen by lunchtime. Ocean City had accumulated 7.4 inches as of midday, and Atlantic City International Airport in Egg Harbor Township had gotten 4 inches as of 1 p.m.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a good money-making day,鈥� said Brandon Pakula, owner of Marlboro, Monmouth County-based BMP Snow Removal Services, who was plowing, shoveling and salting areas near the Atlantic City Boardwalk. 鈥淚t鈥檚 coming down heavy, man. It鈥檚 windy, and it鈥檚 really coming down.鈥�
He started work at 7 a.m. and expected to be out all night.
The phone was constantly ringing at Tree Effect, a Cape May Court House business that includes snow removal.
鈥淲e鈥檙e getting tons of calls, but a lot of them are kind of moot right off the bat because it鈥檚 not done snowing,鈥� said owner Gary Farrow. 鈥淢ost people wait for the snow to subside.鈥�
The Ocean City Boardwalk was not quite deserted Monday, but only a few ventured out to see the snowy oceanfront. City resident Will Hanson had family visiting from Australia, who left a hot, summer Christmas for a cold New Jersey winter.
His daughter, Alexandra Hanson, 3陆, played in the snow with her aunt, Naomi Hanson, from Australia, who was showing her niece how to make snowballs.
The Atlantic City Boardwalk had gotten 5.5 inches of snow as of midday. Mike Krawitz looked out at the snow-covered walkway from his home in the Atlantic Palace building and said it was beautiful.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a very fine snow, like a mist,鈥� he said.
Road crews were out before the first snowflakes fell, treating roadways with snow-melting substances such as brine.
But fast-accumulating snow in some places led to accidents, including several on the Garden State Parkway, where the speed limit was lowered to 35 mph Monday morning during plowing and salting operations. The same reduced speed limit was adopted on the Atlantic City Expressway.
An overturned commercial vehicle forced the closure of Route 47 in Dennis Township for part of the morning between Tyler Road and Washington Avenue.
Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties, urging motorists to drive cautiously.
The Atlantic City Fire Department responded to a fire in the 2300 block of Atlantic Avenue early Monday, as the snow began to fall. Eight people were displaced and are being assisted by the Red Cross, fire Chief Scott Evans said.
Many government offices were closed due to the weather, and the Cape May County Zoo said it would reopen Wednesday.
The storm system was predicted to move offshore Tuesday, followed by 鈥渧ery cold鈥� temperatures through the end of the week, the National Weather Service said. Tuesday鈥檚 high at Atlantic City International Airport is forecast to be 33 degrees, just one point above freezing, with wind whipping the fallen snow around. More snow is forecast for Saturday.
Staff Writers Bill Barlow and Nicholas Huba contributed to this report.