Governor Sherrill declared a state of emergency across all 21 counties in New Jersey effective noon on Sunday, February 22, 2026, as the state braces for what officials describe as its first statewide blizzard in roughly three decades. The storm threatens wind gusts up to 55 mph, heavy widespread snow, and potential coastal flooding, prompting a mandatory overnight travel ban and raising the specter of the last comparable event, the 1996 blizzard season that dumped a verified record of 122.0 inches at High Point Park.
Statewide Emergency Covers All 21 Counties
The emergency declaration, issued on February 21, covers every corner of New Jersey and activates state resources to respond to what the governor’s office called “so incredibly dangerous” conditions. Forecast threats listed in the governor’s announcement include blizzard conditions, wind gusts up to 55 mph, heavy widespread snow, and potential coastal flooding. By covering all 21 counties simultaneously, the order signals that no region of the state is expected to escape significant impact, a rarity that sets this storm apart from more localized nor’easters that typically hit the coast hardest while sparing inland areas.
The formal threshold for a Blizzard Warning, as defined by the National Weather Service, requires sustained winds or gusts of 35 mph or greater combined with falling or blowing snow that reduces visibility frequently to under a quarter mile. The 55 mph gusts forecast for this storm far exceed that minimum, which helps explain why state officials escalated their language beyond routine winter weather advisories. At that wind speed, snow does not simply accumulate; it drifts rapidly, buries vehicles, and turns even short stretches of highway into zero-visibility corridors.
Mandatory Travel Ban From Sunday Night to Monday Morning
Hours after the emergency declaration, the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, operating under the Division of the New Jersey State Police, imposed a mandatory travel restriction running from 9:00 p.m. Sunday, February 22, to 7:00 a.m. Monday, February 23. The ban applies to state, county, municipal, and interstate roadways, effectively clearing the road network so plows and emergency vehicles can operate without dodging stranded motorists. The NJ Turnpike is a notable exemption, likely because it serves as a critical north-south corridor for commercial freight and emergency logistics that cannot be fully shut down without cascading supply-chain effects.
The practical consequence for residents is straightforward: anyone on a non-exempt road during the restricted window faces penalties under state law. New Jersey’s winter guidance lists the specific dangers that justify such a drastic step. Blizzard conditions can strand commuters, close airports, disrupt emergency services, and cause roof, tree, and powerline failures. Each of those risks intensifies after dark, when visibility drops further and rescue crews face longer response times. The travel ban is less about punishing drivers than about keeping roads passable for the equipment that will determine how quickly the state digs out.
How This Storm Compares to the 1996 Blizzard
The “30 years” framing in official statements is not arbitrary. The last time New Jersey experienced a blizzard of comparable statewide scope was the winter of 1995 to 96, a season so extreme that its full scale was only confirmed decades later. According to the National Centers within NOAA, the State Climate Extremes Committee verified 122.0 inches of seasonal snowfall at High Point Park, recorded at COOP station 28-3935, for the period from July 1, 1995, to June 30, 1996. That figure was re-evaluated and formally recognized through a process documented in NESDIS documentation, confirming it as a state seasonal snowfall record and underscoring just how anomalous that winter was in the climatological record.
What makes the historical comparison instructive is not just the snow totals but the infrastructure damage. The 1996 blizzard paralyzed the mid-Atlantic for days, and New Jersey’s population, road network, and development density have all grown since then, increasing the number of people and assets in harm’s way. A storm producing sustained winds above 35 mph for three or more hours, the formal blizzard threshold, would test aging power grids and tree canopies that have had three decades of additional growth. The coastal flooding component adds a layer of risk that the 1996 event did not emphasize as heavily, suggesting that even if snowfall totals fall short of that historic mark, the combined wind and water threat could produce damage on a similar or greater scale for coastal communities, barrier islands, and low-lying back bays.
What Residents Should Expect on the Ground
The gap between a forecast and lived experience often comes down to timing. With the state of emergency taking effect at noon Sunday and the travel ban beginning nine hours later, residents have a narrow window to finish preparations. The state’s emergency management office warns that blizzard conditions, defined as winds of 35 mph or greater with visibility under a quarter mile lasting three or more hours, create a chain of failures that compounds quickly. Power outages from downed lines leave homes without heat. Fallen trees block the roads that utility crews need to reach damaged infrastructure. Airports shut down, stranding travelers and halting cargo flights that carry medical supplies and perishable goods.
For the roughly nine million people who live in New Jersey, the most immediate concern is whether they can shelter in place for 24 to 48 hours without power or road access. The NOAA website and its forecasting arms emphasize that residents should have enough food, water, medications, and batteries to ride out extended disruptions, especially in areas where plows may not reach neighborhood streets until after main arteries are cleared. Those on the coast must also contend with potential storm surge and tidal flooding, which can force evacuations or cut off access to barrier islands. Even inland, blowing and drifting snow can create whiteout conditions that make it impossible for fire, EMS, and law enforcement to respond, meaning that minor household accidents or medical issues could become more serious simply because help cannot arrive quickly.
Coordination, Communication, and Recovery
Behind the scenes, the state’s emergency response hinges on coordination among agencies that do not usually share day-to-day responsibilities. The New Jersey Office of Emergency Management works with federal partners whose missions are rooted in both safety and economic stability; for example, the U.S. Department of Commerce, which oversees NOAA, highlights on its department site how accurate environmental data supports transportation, energy, and business continuity during severe weather. During a statewide blizzard, that data feeds into decision-making about when to close or reopen highways, how to prioritize utility restoration, and where to stage search-and-rescue assets if conditions deteriorate faster than expected.
Communication with the public is equally critical, especially when orders like travel bans and emergency declarations affect daily life. New Jersey’s government relies on a mix of press releases, social media, and formal notices to ensure that residents and local officials receive consistent guidance. The state maintains online portals for official records and transition materials, such as the government archives, which help preserve institutional knowledge about how past emergencies were handled. Lessons learned from previous storms (what worked, what failed, and where coordination broke down) inform the playbook being used now as crews prepare for heavy snow, high winds, and coastal flooding. Once the snow stops, that same infrastructure will support damage assessments, disaster assistance requests, and the long process of returning schools, businesses, and transit systems to normal operations.
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*This article was researched with the help of AI, with human editors creating the final content.
