Photo Catherine Hecht, copyright Jersey City Independent

According to the National Weather Center a Blizzard Warning remains in affect for our area from midnight tonight through midnight tomorrow. Winter Storm Stella is expected to bring heavy snow and blizzard like conditions with some freezing drizzle late Tuesday afternoon into early Tuesday evening. The forecast is calling for 12-24 inch accumulations with snow falling two to three inches per hour. Temperatures are expected to fall into the 20s, with winds expected to reach 25-35 mph and gusts up to 55 mph.

Mayor Steven Fulop and the Office of Emergency Management, in coordination with the Department of Public Works, are preparing with an aggressive snow removal plan for blizzard conditions as Winter Storm Stella tracks toward our region. Snow is expected to begin after midnight tonight, with the heaviest snowfall during the early morning hours and the morning commute.

Beginning in the early hours tomorrow morning, the Department of Public Works will have 64 pieces of equipment – plows and spreaders – working the storm as part of their snow removal operations across Jersey City. The city has nearly 6,000 tons of salt available.

The Jersey City OEM Command Center will be operational overnight and throughout the storm, as will the DPW Snow Command Center. The Office of Emergency Management and Department of Public Works officials will be closely monitoring and tracking the storm to best coordinate snow-removal operations.

Residents who do not need to drive are advised to stay off the roads. Street sweeping and alternate side parking regulations have been suspended until further notice, garage pickup for tonight remains on schedule.

In advance of the storm NJ Transit announced system wide cross-honoring will be in effect on Tuesday, March 14 for NJ trains, light rail, PATH, NY Waterway, and Billybey ferry service.

• All bus service is SUSPENDED systemwide beginning at 12:01 am
• All rail service will operate on a weekend schedule
• Hudson Bergen Light Rail will operate on a weekend schedule with the addition of service (every 20 minutes) between Tonnelle Ave. and Hoboken Terminal

For additional updates, advisories and travel alerts check panynj.gov, njtransit.com and nywaterway.com before heading out.

ABC News has reported that all MTA subway service above ground will be suspended at 4 am on Tuesday, March 14. Underground subway service is expected to continue to run.

Citi Bike will temporarily close their system starting at 11 pm tonight. Check their website for updates.

All Jersey City and Hudson County Municipal Offices will be closed tomorrow. Only public safety and snow removal operations will be operating and will be fully staffed with additional personnel as needed.

All Jersey City Municipal Court matters are cancelled for March 14 and the 9 am session for Wednesday, March 15, will also be canceled. Court will resume at 1:00 pm Wednesday, March 15. Hudson County Superior Court will also be closed tomorrow. New court dates will be sent.

Governor Christie has declared a state of emergency and all New Jersey state offices will be closed on Tuesday, March 14, for all non-essential employees. All New Jersey state courts and court offices will also be closed.

For those traveling into NYC, Governor Cuomo has also declared a state of emergency for New York state starting tonight.

Jersey City Public Schools announced schools will be closed, Tuesday, March 14 and all Jersey City recreation programming for tomorrow are canceled.

Saint Peter’s Prep announced that it will be closed Tuesday, March 14.

Saint Peter’s University and Hudson County Community College also announced that their campuses will be closed and all classes are canceled for Tuesday, March 14.

All Jersey City Public Library locations will be closed tomorrow. For updates check the JCFPL website.

The City’s Congregate lunch sites for seniors will be closed March 14 and Meals on Wheels will not be delivering tomorrow. In preparation of the storm, the Meals on Wheels program will deliver additional meals today to ensure all home bound seniors who are part of the program receive their deliveries. All senior programming, such as activities and shopping trips, are also canceled for tomorrow.

Residents are reminded not to park within 25 feet of an intersection and to not double park. Doing so only hampers the efforts of crews plowing and salting streets. All vehicles parked within 25 feet of an intersection may be ticketed or towed. If possible, residents are asked to not park on main thoroughfares, so that DPW can remove snow from curb-to-curb.

Be a good neighbor and shovel your walk in front of your home or business (plus it’s the law), residents are reminded to NOT shovel snow into the street. And it’s always a good idea to check in on neighbors and friends, especially seniors or those living on their own, to see if they need assistance. Want to help during the storm? Sign up for JC Shovels and help low income seniors and residents with disabilities dig out.

If you haven’t already be sure to sign up to receive emergency alerts and updates from the citywide alert system Swift911 Portal and you can also sign up to receive email notifications from the city on their website.

For additional updates check the Jersey City government website or follow the city on social media at @JC_Gov.

JCI will add any updates we get to this post and will also share updates via our twitter feed so follow us @jcindependent.

As always, stay safe JC!