News Flash

Monmouth County has a Winter Storm Warning until 1:00 PM on Monday, January 26^th. Snowfall is expected to start early Sunday morning and continue through Monday afternoon. According to National Weather Service Mount Holly, the amount of snow forecasted is 8-12". Due to the potential weight of the snow and ice, please do not approach any downed trees or low hanging wires.

Postponements and Cancellations

• All Middletown Parks & Recreation and Middletown Arts Center events originally scheduled for Sunday, January 25^th are either canceled or postponed. The annual Climb With A Cop fundraiser, hosted by Middletown PBA Local 124 and Hazlet PBA Local 189, was originally scheduled for Monday, January 26^th and is also being postponed.
• Depending on the severity of the storm, Town Hall and our other municipal buildings may be closed on Monday, January 26^th. Whether Town Hall is open, Municipal Court is expected be closed, so scheduled sessions would be canceled. The Middletown Township Public School District is also anticipating a closure on Monday and will notify parents/guardians on Sunday.
• There will be no garbage collection in the North Zone on Monday, January 26^th. There will be a "double collection" on Thursday, January 29^th. Residents can leave up to 3 extra bags next to their carts. 
• There will be no bulk collection in the South Zone on Monday, January 26^th or Tuesday, January 27^th. We ask all South Zone residents who scheduled bulk pickup for Monday or Tuesday to place their items curbside on Wednesday, January 28^th or later in the week to give DPW crews time to clear snow from the streets. Additional collection updates will be posted via the Recycle Coach app.

Snow Preparation & Response

The Township's emergency operations team met this afternoon to discuss the snowstorm's path and response tactics. Middletown Township Police, Fire, Emergency Medical Services, and Office of Emergency Management departments are fully staffed for any type of emergency. Please call 911 for emergencies. 

The Middletown Township Department of Public Works (DPW) has been salting, sanding, and brining roads since 6:00 AM and will continue through midnight. Crews will continue to work the same hours on Saturday, January 24^th. All main and secondary roads are expected to be treated before the snowfall. Operations will continue through Monday.

Key Temperature Thresholds for Salt Effectiveness:

• 30°F to 25°F: Highly effective, works quickly.
• 25°F to 20°F: Still functional, but requires more product.
• 20°F to 15°F: Effectiveness drops significantly, becomes sluggish.
• Below 15°F: Becomes largely ineffective or "useless" on roads.

Port Monmouth Floodgate Closure:

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection will be placing the Port Monmouth facility into "Operational Mode” on Saturday, January 24^th at 2:00 PM. This will allow the Pews Creek Tide Gate to automatically open and close based on the tides while ensuring the interior drainage basin does not exceed elevation +5.0 NAVD88. High tide is anticipated to be at 1:12 AM Monday, with the tide predicted to be +4.0 with a level of uncertainty as high as +5.9 (precipitation in the region).

How Residents Can Prepare:

• Move your vehicle off the street before a storm.
• To not interfere with plows, please remove all items such as basketball hoops, hockey goals, etc. from the roadway. We also encourage residents to park their vehicles in their driveway if they have one. Residents are permitted to park cars at municipal parking lots free of charge, such as the Middletown Train Station commuter lot.
• Refrain from shoveling your sidewalk until the snow has stopped and plowing is complete.

Snow Removal

Once snow begins to accumulate to about 3 inches, snow removal procedures are initiated. The Township’s priority is to keep primary roads open so there is a clear path for emergency vehicles. The Township uses approximately 120 vehicles to treat and clear roads. 

To view a list of primary, secondary, and collector streets, visit middletownnj.org/snow. If your street is not listed, it is considered a neighborhood street that will be addressed as soon as the others are completed. We ask that those on roads that are not heavily used to be patient, as all roads will be salted/plowed in time. If your street has still not been plowed after some time, you can submit a plow request at middletownnj.org/plowrequest.

Visit middletownnj.org/stormguide for more information about DPW's storm prep and snow removal procedures.

Safety Tips

• Please clear snow from all vents around the house. This includes flue pipes and dryer vents. When the vents are blocked, dangerous carbon monoxide can build up inside the home. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Middletown Fire Official Buddy Skelly at 732-615-2272.
• If there’s a fire hydrant near your home, please keep it accessible by clearing 3 feet of space around it — it’s required by law for all homeowners with a hydrant on their property.

As heavy winds and snow could knock out power, please adhere to the following rules when using a generator: 

• Give 10 feet of clearance from any structure.
• Use UL approved extension cords.
• Ensure carbon monoxide alarms and smoke detectors are functioning in all businesses/homes while using a generator.
• Never run a generator in an enclosed space or indoors. This includes basements and garages, which can capture deadly levels of carbon monoxide. Always place the generator at least 20 feet from the house with the engine exhaust directed away from windows and doors. Keeping the garage door open does not provide enough ventilation to keep the fumes outside. 
• Purchase a (CO) detector with a plug and battery backup. That way, if you shut off the generator, the battery backup will automatically keep the device going.

Please call Middletown Fire Official Buddy Skelly at 732-615-2272 if you have any questions about how to safely use a generator. If you lose power and decide to burn candles as a source of light, please place the candles on hard, non-flammable surfaces to avoid a potential fire.

Visit middletownnj.org/winterstormprep for additional safety tips.

Power Outages

To report downed wires or power outages call 1-888-LIGHTSS or click the “Report Outage” link at www.firstenergycorp.com. Please remember, never go near a downed power line, even if you think it is no longer carrying electricity.

Warming Station

Please call the Middletown Township Police Department at 732-615-2100 if you need access to a warming station. The Middletown Township Office of Emergency Management will open the Middletown Township Public Library (55 New Monmouth Road) as a warming station if needed.

Stay Informed

For additional weather alert updates, text your zip code to 888-777, download the Everbridge Nixle mobile app, or visit middletownnj.org/NIXLE to register. You can also get local weather updates by visiting National Weather Service Mount Holly. We will also be posting additional updates via our social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, X, and Nextdoor).

Thank you and stay safe!