NJ snowstorm brings speed restrictions; updated snow totals for Monmouth, Ocean

The storm traveling through New Jersey forecast to drop up to eight inches of snow in parts of the state has arrived. The Asbury Park Press will be posting updates as the storm progresses.

Slowing it down

The speed limit on the Garden State Parkway from Cape May to New York State has been lowered to 45 mph.

All commercial vehicles are banned in both directions on Interstate 195 west of Route 34 in Wall. The ban pertains to all tractor-trailers, "empty straight CDL weighted trucks, passenger vehicles pulling trailers, recreational vehicles and motorcycles," according to 511nj.org.

More snow tonight?

The National Weather Service has posted the following weather updates for specific areas within Monmouth and Ocean counties.

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Eastern Monmouth - Mostly cloudy. A chance of snow in the evening. Total snow accumulation from the storm of 4 to 6 inches possible. Colder with lows around 17. Northwest winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Chance of snow 50 percent.

Western Monmouth - Cloudy with a chance of snow in the evening, then partly cloudy after midnight. Total snow accumulation of 4 to 6 inches possible. Colder with lows around 15. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 50 percent.

Mainland Ocean County - Cloudy with a chance of snow in the evening, then partly cloudy after midnight. Total snow accumulation of 4 to 6 inches possible. Colder with lows around 15. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 50 percent.

Coastal Ocean County - Cloudy with snow likely in the evening, then partly cloudy after midnight. Total snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches. Colder with lows around 19. Northwest winds 15 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 70 percent.

Courthouses closed

All state courthouses are closed Friday due to the snowstorm. However, remote court events will proceed as scheduled.

Snowfall rates to increase at noon

Cameron Wunderlan, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service, said the forecast has remain pretty consistent since Thursday.

The snow will continue to fall from now until the evening hours, but between noon and 4 p.m., the snow rates will increase, which will be when we see the heaviest snowfall, Wunderlan said.

Wunderlan said the weather service is predicting between three to five inches of snow in Monmouth County, with heavier snow falling south toward Ocean County which could receive four to six inches.

Steven DiMartino, meteorologist at NY NJ PA Weather, is predicting between four to eight inches of snowfall across the two counties, with most areas seeing precipitation in the four to five inch range.

Snow will start tapering off around 7 p.m., with light flurries to follow, Wunderlan said.

According to the National Weather Service, Ocean County remains under a winter storm warning until 10 p.m. and Monmouth County is under a winter weather advisory until 10 p.m.

What can we expect?

The snow is not expected to accumulate much at first so road conditions should be as they have been for the morning commute, according to the National Weather Service in Mount Holly. Commuters should see the first flakes between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m., Meteorologist Alex Staarmann of the weather service said. It will start as light snowfall that will intensify late Friday morning.

The snow is expected to be dry, so it should pose little risk until later in the day, Staarmann said.

Toms River alerted residents Thursday that garbage collection would start an hour early Friday morning. The Department of Public Works asks that you have your garbage and recyclables out by 5:30 a.m.

Here's what you can expect as the day continues.

Neptune Township Thursday night was readying residents for the snow parking ordinance to take effect. In Ocean Grove, drivers must follow the posted signs. In the rest of Neptune, vehicles must be parked on the odd-numbered side of the street, according to a Nixle alert.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Snow storm NJ: How much snow are we getting? Updates roll in.