The state's entire 14-member congressional delegation endorsed Gov. Chris Christie's request for federal disaster aid. Watch video

WASHINGTON -- A day after Gov. Chris Christie sought federal disaster aid to help cover the costs of January's winter storm, the entire 14-member New Jersey congressional delegation asked President Barack Obama to approve his request.

The storm ravaged 17 of the state's 21 counties and caused an estimated $82.6 million in damage.

"The devastation endured by New Jersey residents, business owners, and local governments merits a disaster declaration and emergency assistance," the lawmakers wrote to the president.

"Recovery from this storm has been difficult for New Jerseyans, and we urge you to approve this request as soon as possible to ensure the people of New Jersey can begin to rebuild from this storm and mitigate against future disasters."

U.S. Sens. Robert Menendez and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2nd Dist.) toured parts of the Jersey Shore after the storm, which caused coastal flooding in some of Cape May County's towns that exceeded the levels during Hurricane Sandy. 

A disaster declaration would make the state eligible for federal funds for the storm, which brought up to 30 inches of snow, plus high winds and flooding, and cut power to around 270,000 homes. Christie said the counties in question suffered around $82.6 million in damages.

Christie sought the disaster declaration for Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Somerset, Union, and Warren counties.

He also requested federal funds to help cover the costs of removing and dumping the snow and salting and sanding roads in Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Somerset, Union, and Warren counties.

Clear damage met FEMA threshold for federal disaster assistance from storm having toured several #SouthJersey communities, spoke w/ mayors

-- Frank LoBiondo (@RepLoBiondo) February 11, 2016

Chief said the many challenges made this fire the largest he has ever seen in Somerset County. Watch video

HILLSBOROUGH -- When Hillsborough Chief Fire Marshall Chris Weniger arrived at the massive warehouse fire at Veterans Industrial Park shortly after 3 p.m. Thursday, he knew he was in for the biggest fire he has faced in his 33-year career.

Weniger said he witnessed an inferno that was raging out of control.

"We didn't arrive at a small fire and it grew," Weniger, the township's chief fire marshal for the past 18 years, told NJ Advance Media Saturday. "We arrived at a large fire. Also, the wind was a big factor.

"Within the boundaries of Somerset County, I can't think of a larger fire. Just the sheer size of it. And the fact we had so many challenges with the weather, the wind, the water supply wasn't the best."

Old sprinklers and hydrants to blame at blaze

Weniger said the fire was officially contained Friday morning. As of Saturday morning, he said rotating crews are on "mop-up" duty, extinguishing small hot spots. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Veteran firefighters agree that the overnight blaze at Veterans Industrial Park, which required firefighters from more than 30 communities and five counties - Hunterdon, Mercer, Morris, Warren and Somerset - and more than 200 vehicles to contain, was the biggest in the county in recent memory.

The blaze closed Route 206 for much of Thursday and Friday, the major thoroughfare in the township of more than 38,000 residents that was voted one of Money Magazine's "100 Best Places to Live" in 2015.

"I can't even imagine being a first responder," said Bradley Gardens Fire Chief Frank Ur. "I'm just glad no one got seriously hurt."

Duke Farms' eagles not exposed to smoke

Ur said the fire was the most intense in the county that he's been involved with since the blaze at the Bradco Supply Corporation on March 4, 2006. In that fire, highly-flammable roofing materials burned quickly and 25 fire units fought the blaze. Thick black smoke billowed over the 13-acre property and could be seen from miles away. Wind gusts complicated matters.

"Just the roofing materials alone made it difficult," said Ur.

By Friday morning, the fire at Veterans Industrial Park was contained to the two 240,000-square foot buildings initially involved at the four-building warehouse complex.

Firefighters worked 10- to 12-hour shifts with anywhere from 50 to 100 firefighters working at any one time. Six to 10 ladders were operating at the peak of the fire. An outdated sprinkler system and aging hydrants led to inadequate water pressure, which hampered firefighters, Weniger said.

Two firefighters suffered minor injuries - a leg injury and an eye injury.

Initially, there was concern about the air quality levels as smoke blanketed the sky for miles. Residents in the areas of Camplain, Old Camplain and Sunnymead roads and Brooks Boulevard avoid exposure to the smoke and keep windows closed.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency set up six air monitoring stations overnight. Friday morning it was determined that after an overnight spike, the levels returned to below those dangerous levels.

Residents in the areas of Camplain, Old Camplain and Sunnymead roads and Brooks Boulevard avoid exposure to the smoke and keep windows closed.

The four large buildings contained various commodities, storage containers, paper records storage and plastic chips and pellets. The buildings are owned by the federal government and leased to a private company that, in turn, sub-leased them to the firms operating out of the complex.

Residents turn to social media

Because the site is owned by the federal government, Hillsborough has little jurisdiction over it, officials said.

Weniger said he was overwhelmed by the support from surrounding municipalities and counties and the community.

"We're extremely grateful for the assistance from the neighboring communities and counties," said Weniger. "We want to thank the mutual aid, the Somerset County Office of Emergency Management, our dispatchers at the Somerset County Command Center, the New Jersey Department of Fire Safety and, of course, the firefighters.

"Most of these firefighters are volunteers and they continue to come out here in these brutal conditions and fight fires. I can't say enough about them.

"Finally, I want to thank the community at large and the business community in Hillsborough. We received so many well-wishes. There was food and water. There were signs of support. It was real nice to know the community is appreciative and supportive of our efforts."

Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Pope John is a four-time defending champion of the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex tournament.

As cold as it was, they still could have used more ice, the lead instructor said.

It wasn't the cold Greg Mactye was complaining about Saturday.

"We didn't have as much ice as we'd like to have had," he said.

An inch and a half to two inches over the Merrill Creek Reservoir in Harmony Township would have been ideal for the Garden State Underwater Recovery Unit's annual ice rescue training seminar.

Some tips to deal with the cold

At that thickness, it starts to crack under would-be rescuers' feet and gives them a realistic portrayal of an emergency situation, said Mactye, the lead instructor.

But even with the thin layer they had, the training went off without a hitch as 40 people from local rescue and fire agencies learned how to handle such precarious situations from the shore and in the water -- with wetsuits, of course.

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

The Blue Streaks fell to four-time defending Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex champion Pope John.

When playing a four-time defending champion, some teams might be intimidated.

The Warren Hills boys basketball team proved on Saturday afternoon it's way more than some team.

The Blue Streaks battled four-time defending Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex champ Pope John XXIII to the very end, dropping a 47-44 decision on their home gym.

The game wasn't decided until senior guard John Bamford's potential overtime-forcing 3-pointer bounced off the back of the rim in the final seconds of the fourth quarter.

"I thought we played really well. I couldn't be more proud of my team," Bamford said. "We work really hard. I really wish we could have pulled a win out of this. There were a few mistakes we made but I'm proud of my team."

"Moral victory-wise, we did great," Warren Hills coach Stan Kubbishun said. "We just didn't do enough to win. Honestly, like I told the kids at the end of the game, I could envision four plays in my head that made the difference in this game where there were loose balls that they picked up and scored on. Where if we would've dove on the floor and got the ball, even if it was a jump ball, it would've given us a chance to reset our defense and maybe they not have scored, which would have made a difference in the game."

Bamford, who had a game-high 18 points, made two free throws with 4:45 left in the third quarter to put the Blue Streaks up 32-30. That capped a 10-2 run to start the second half. The run featured four points from Bamford and six from senior Funot Woldetnsai on two 3-pointers. Woldetnsai, a transfer from Pope John, had four 3-pointers in the game and finished with 14 points.

Pope John answered the Blue Streaks' run with an 11-1 spurt to end the third quarter.

But Warren Hills wouldn't go away, cutting the deficit to one twice in the fourth quarter, the last time on a nice reverse layup by Bamford with 45 seconds left.

The Blue Streaks' defense was fierce in the fourth quarter, holding Pope John to six points in the fourth quarter.

"We're just playing our defense," Bamford said. "We're really good at this defense we just put in and we're working hard in it. Hands up all the time, causing havoc. Trying to get in their heads, moving all the time, reading passes and that's what we did."

"It was just our defense. We took them out of their rhythm, I think," Kubbishun said. "Our length bothered them a little bit. They were throwing lollipop passes. It was just good for us. We told our kids the last two days, if we keep the game in the 40s, we have a chance and we had a chance today. It's all we can ask for. I'd like to get a win but it just didn't happen."

Josh Folck may be reached at jfolck@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoshFolck. Find Lehigh Valley high school sports on Facebook.

The senior transfer scored 14 points against Pope John.

Warren Hills senior Funot Woldetnsai was thinking about this game for quite some time.

Woldetnsai, who played for Pope John the previous years, got a chance to compete against the four-time Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex champion on Saturday at Warren Hills Regional High School.

The Blue Streaks came up just shy of getting the win but Woldetnsai had a solid game with 14 points, including four 3-pointers.

"I was really, really excited coming into it," Woldetnsai said. "I couldn't sleep last night. I woke up at like 5 o'clock, thinking about the game. I had a dream about it a couple nights ago too. I was just really, really waiting for this game. Since I transferred, I was waiting to play them. It came true and we came up short."

Woldetnsai hit two key 3-pointers in the beginning stages of the third quarter that helped the Blue Streaks take the lead. Warren Hills' lead quickly evaporated as the home team fell 47-44 in a game that came down to the last possession.

"I knew everybody on the team," Woldetnsai said. "It was a really hard loss, knowing everybody. We were right there too."

The Blue Streaks' defense held Pope John to only six points in the fourth quarter.

"Our 1-3-1 defense was kind of getting them really scattered," Woldetnsai said. "And we were hitting really big shots. Me, Johnny (Bamford), James (Jordan), a freshman, was taking it to the rack a little bit, getting fouled. We were playing really well. I was proud of the whole team. We were playing really good defense."

Woldetnsai, who attended Warren Hills for seventh and eighth grade before heading to Pope John, has helped the Blue Streaks to their 13-5 record this season.

"Since he came back, he's been a great help for us," Warren Hills coach Stan Kubbishun said. "Just his length alone. His shooting. I'm glad he's back. He's doing a great job for us right now."

"I like the school, I like the people," Woldetnsai said about Warren Hills. "The coaches are great. My teammates are great. Like a family. Everything's awesome."

Josh Folck may be reached at jfolck@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoshFolck. Find Lehigh Valley high school sports on Facebook.

The Blue Streaks are 13-5 on the season.

It's the last chance for John Bamford and the rest of the Warren Hills basketball seniors to make a special run.

And Bamford is hoping it can happen.

"This is it for our team," Bamford said. "All of us best friends growing up so we're trying to go as far as we can in states and accomplish as much as we can together and as a team."

Despite a tough loss to four-time defending Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex tournament champion Pope John on Saturday, the Blue Streaks are 13-5 this season.

"We've been playing really well, especially with transfer Funot Woldetnsai that just came in. He's been huge for us," Bamford said. "Freshman James Jordan is also huge for us coming off the bench. He was starting at one point but when Funot came, Funot took his spot. James Jordan, Funot, Anthony Veneziano, just huge coming in for us, bringing us big points when we need it. A lot of energy off the bench and in the starting five."

Bamford led the way with 18 points on Saturday, including being a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line.

"Johnny means a lot. Johnny's the glue that holds this team together," Warren Hills coach Stan Kubbishun said. "He does a great job with everything. Sometimes he just looks to pass a little bit too much than shooting for himself. That would be the only thing I would change about Johnny. But other than that, he's a great person, he's a great leader. He does anything that we ask."

The Blue Streaks will continue their regular season with a road game against South Hunterdon on Tuesday night.

Warren Hills will be the third seed in the NJSIAA North 2, Group 3 tournament and will open play against 14th seed Barringer at 7 p.m. Feb. 29.

"Overall, I think our season's gone OK," Kubbishun said. "Record wise, we lost a couple games maybe we shouldn't have lost. We should have maybe, to me, two less losses. But other than that, it's going pretty good overall. I'm looking forward to the states. Right now, finishing strong and hopefully we can make it all the way to the state final."

Josh Folck may be reached at jfolck@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoshFolck. Find Lehigh Valley high school sports on Facebook.

The Blue Streaks fell just short in the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex quarterfinals.

Warren Hills boys basketball team gave four-time defending Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex tournament champion Pope John XXIII everything it could handle on Saturday.

The Blue Streaks ended up on the short end of a 47-44 battle in the H/W/S quarterfinals.

Find full coverage of the game by clicking the links below:

H/W/S basketball tournament updates for Feb. 13, 2016

Warren Hills boys basketball falls just short against powerful Pope John

Warren Hills boys basketball not intimidated by 4-time champs

Warren Hills' Woldetnsai has strong showing against old team

Warren Hills boys basketball seniors looking to make one final run

Full box score

Josh Folck may be reached at jfolck@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoshFolck. Find Lehigh Valley high school sports on Facebook.

For $1, Greenwich Township is to sign over three acres to the volunteer fire company.

With one dollar, firefighters in Greenwich Township could finally be on the way to financing a new home.

"We've been trying to do this since the late '90s, early 2000s -- get a fire station built," said Joe Mecsey III, chief of the Stewartsville Volunteer Fire Co.

The fire company is to formalize a land purchase with the township committee on Thursday, when elected officials for $1 will sign over about three acres of municipal land -- the future site of a new Stewartsville fire station.

The Stewartsville Volunteer Fire Co. responds to a fire in 2014. The company's headquarters in the Greenwich Township municipal building is cramped among the other municipal departments and vehicles. "We barely have enough room for the firetrucks," said president Troy Rush. (lehighvalleylive.com file photo)

"It was just time to take the next step and get the deal done," Mayor Will Spencer said. "We're moving forward, we're making progress."

The fire company, which president Troy Rush estimated has about 45 total volunteers, operates out of the municipal building. It's a tight fit with the other township departments and vehicles, both Rush and Mecsey said.

"We barely have enough room for the firetrucks," Rush said.

The new firehouse would be less than a mile away from its current spot. The idea is for a 14,000-square-foot station with room for the firehouse to grow as needed and rent out space for community events, the fire officials said.

But securing the land is just one step in a process planned to take about two years and $1 million. It will be the department's project, Mecsey said -- he estimated the volunteer group's eligibility for grants and other financial incentives will keep the cost at about a third of what the township would have paid.

The agreement has some contingencies to protect the township, the fire chief said. For example, Greenwich will retake ownership if the site is not developed in 10 years or if the department dissolves.

Warren County crews called to 5-alarm fire in Somerset (VIDEO)

The fire company knows there is a lot of work ahead, and an ever-present concern that the deal could somehow fall through like past promises, Mecsey said. But there's also an excitement that the volunteers could be on the path to a new station.

"The optimism is on the good side there," the chief said, "but we still have a long road home."

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

The driver lost control, left the highway and hit a tree Saturday night in Allamuchy Township, authorities said.

A 54-year-old woman died from injuries she sustained following a fiery crash Saturday night along Interstate 80 in Allamuchy Township, according to the Lehigh County Coroner's Office.

(file photo) 

Geraldine S. Beldo, of Coolbaugh Township, Monroe County, at around 8 p.m. Saturday was near mile marker 20.3 when she lost control of a Mazda SUV and struck a tree, according to the coroner's office.

The vehicle then burst into flames, said Sgt. Gregory Williams, a New Jersey State Police spokesman. He said passing motorists pulled over and rescued the victim, who was trapped inside the vehicle.

Troopers arriving at the scene had to pull Beldo even farther away from the wreckage due to the heat, he said.

Beldo initially was taken to Pocono Medical Center and later transferred to Lehigh Valley Hospital in Salisbury Township, where she was pronounced dead at 4:31 a.m. Sunday.

Lehigh County Coroner Scott Grim said Beldo died from multiple traumatic injuries and he deemed the manner of death accidental.

Williams was unsure if speed was a factor in the crash, noting the accident remains under investigation by the New Jersey State Police at the Hope station and the Lehigh County Coroner's Office.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

Snow followed by ice in the wake of a deep freeze weekend could make travel conditions treacherous on Presidents Day.

A winter storm is expected to bring snow, ice and rain through the Lehigh Valley region starting on Presidents Day. (AccuWeather graphic) 

Enough snow and ice Monday will accumulate to cause messy travel conditions, disrupt plans and lead to possible power outages, weather forecasters say.

Brutal cold over this Valentine's Day weekend will lead to a wintry mix of snow, freezing rain and ice in Monday's forecast for Presidents Day. The National Weather Service in Mount Holly has issued a winter weather advisory, in effect from 9 a.m. Monday to 2 a.m. Tuesday.

Affected areas include Sussex, Hunterdon and Warren counties in New Jersey and Lehigh, Northampton, Monroe and Bucks counties in Pennsylvania.

Snow is expected to begin by late Monday morning and continue throughout the day. Snow will then mix with sleet Monday afternoon before changing over to freezing rain by Monday evening, the weather service says.

Sean Rowland, a meteorologist with WeatherWorks in Hackettstown, said the changeover likely will occur between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. Monday. Then, an eventual changeover to all rain is predicted by Tuesday morning.

When it's all done, 2 to 4 inches of snow is likely to accumulate and an estimated quarter-inch inch of ice, according to the weather service. AccuWeather is predicting 1 to 3 inches of snowfall and says sidewalks and roads will remain slippery throughout the day.

Power restored after outage caused by wind-whipped utility line

"Tuesday morning will be iffy," Rowland said of the morning commute. "There will be some ice on paved surfaces because it was so cold this weekend."

The high Sunday evening will be 5 to 10 degrees, Rowland said.

Monday is expected to have a high of 25 to 30 degrees and by Tuesday, temperatures could rise to the upper-30s, according to Rowland.

High winds Sunday led to a utility line coming down and 3,330 Met-Ed customers without power. AccuWeather forecasters say sporadic power outages could also occur Monday if high winds and ice bring down more utility lines.

The chance of precipitation Monday is 80 percent and it's 90 percent Monday night, according to the weather service.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

Sloppy mix prompts winter weather advisory in many sections of New Jersey.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for most of northern and central New Jersey because of an approaching storm system that is expected to deliver a sloppy mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain on Presidents Day.

The advisory is effective from 9 a.m. Monday to 2 a.m. Tuesday for Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Sussex and Warren counties in New Jersey, as well as Bucks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe and Northampton counties in Pennsylvania.

How cold did it get in N.J. Sunday morning?

For northeastern counties of New Jersey -- Essex, Hudson, Union, eastern Bergen and eastern Passaic -- as well as New York City, a winter advisory is in effect from 1 p.m. Monday through midnight Tuesday. A separate advisory is in effect from 1 p.m. Monday to 7 a.m. Tuesday for western Passaic and western Bergen, as well as southern Connecticut and the lower Hudson Valley in New York. (See updated weather advisories for Monday) 

Light snow should start falling in the late morning Monday and continue through the day, mixing with sleet and changing to freezing rain in the evening. It's all part of a low-pressure system that's developing in the Ohio and Tennessee valleys and moving north and east into our region.

"A prolonged period of freezing rain is expected before an eventual changeover to rain by Tuesday morning," the weather service said in its advisory. "Early morning temperatures will be very cold, in the single digits and teens in most locations. They are expected to rise into the 30s during the afternoon and remain steady or continue to rise Monday night."

The sleet and freezing rain could make driving conditions hazardous, the weather service noted.

These are the latest snowfall projections across most parts of New Jersey on Presidents Day. (National Weather Service)  

"Be prepared for slippery roads and limited visibilities, and use caution while driving," the weather service said.

The storm could bring 2 to 4 inches of snow, along with a quarter-inch of ice, in northern and western areas before the precipitation changes to all rain.  

The sloppy weather conditions will be followed by a warming trend, with temperatures rising into the 30s, 40s and 50s through most of the week. That will be a far cry from the Arctic blast that overtook the region during the past three days, bringing single-digit temperatures and sub-zero wind chills to many counties across the Garden State and other parts of the Northeast.

Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The crash in Lebanon County involved 64 vehicles, killed 3 and sent 73 people to the hospitals, state police said.

Authorities have released the names of the three people killed in a huge pileup on I-78 Saturday during a snow squall.

The I-78 massive pileup sent 73 people to the hospital and involved 64 vehicles, police said. (AP Photo) 

State police in Lebanon County said Sunday that 50-year-old Kenneth J. Lesko, of Bethpage, New York; 54-year-old Francisca V. Pear, of Bridgewater, New Jersey; and 57-year-old Alfred Dean Kinnick, of Limestone, Tennessee, were all pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said 73 people were taken to 11 hospitals for treatment following Saturday morning's crash on Interstate 78 that involved 64 vehicles, including a dozen commercial vehicles such as tractor trailers and box trucks.

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Don't look for mail delivery Monday. See a rundown of what's open and what's closed here.

Today is a holiday. What you call it is a matter of debate.

Originally, the federal government marked the birthday of George Washington, Feb. 22, but the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which took effect in 1971, switched it (along with Columbus Day and Memorial Day) to a Monday holiday.

According to the website factmonster.com, the federal government continues to recognize the third Monday in February as Washington's Birthday, but because states are not obliged to adopt federal holidays, it varies.

In Pennsylvania and New Jersey it is referred to as Presidents Day, recognizing the achievements of all U.S. presidents.

Here's a rundown of what's open and what's closed.

County offices: Warren, Northampton and Lehigh counties are all closed.

Local municipal offices: The cities of Bethlehem and Easton are closed. Allentown is open. Phillipsburg town hall is closed. For specific communities, check with your local municipality. 

Mail: U.S. post offices are closed and there will be no mail delivery.

Liquor stores: In Pennsylvania, state-run liquor stores are closed. New Jersey liquor stores are privately owned and hours vary by location.

Department of Motor Vehicles: New Jersey DMV offices and Pennsylvania driver's license centers are closed.

Libraries: In New Jersey, four branches of Warren County Library system, the Phillipsburg Free Public Library, the Hackettstown Free Public Library and WH Walters Free Public Library, in Alpha, are all closed. In Pennsylvania, the Easton Area Public Library, Bethlehem Area Public Library, Hellertown Library, Memorial Library of Nazareth and Vicinity and Allentown Public Library are all closed.

Money and markets: The New York Stock Exchange is closed. Many banks and financial instutations are closed, too, although some choose to stay open. Online banking and ATMs will remain available, though transactions such as transfers may not show up until the next business day.

Public transportation: LANTA is operating on a normal schedule. Trans-Bridge Lines is reporting a normal Monday schedule except certain run numbers in and out of New York. The Wall Street/Jersey City east and westbound runs will not operate.

Frigid air is moving out, but stormy weather is moving in on Monday and Tuesday. Watch video

The bone-chilling Arctic air that turned New Jersey into a giant ice box for the past few days is finally drifting out of our area Monday morning, only to be replaced by a storm system packed with a potentially dangerous mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain.

Here's what to expect in terms of the storm's timing and impact:

Timing of the storm

The Presidents Day storm system, which is moving in from the Ohio and Tennessee Valley regions, will start dropping light snow over Philadelphia and the Interstate 95 corridor in southern New Jersey by mid-morning Monday, the National Weather Service said. The snow should start moving into central New Jersey by the mid- to late morning, then northern New Jersey by the afternoon.

As warmer air flows in from the south and east, the snow will eventually mix with sleet and change to rain.

How cold did it get in N.J. on Valentine's Day?

"The big question is how slowly or how quickly the temperatures are going to rise," because that will determine how much snow falls and how much ice accumulates before the snow changes to rain, said Larry Nierenberg, a meteorologist with the weather service's regional office in Mount Holly.

Even when plain rain starts falling as the atmosphere warms up, if temperatures on the ground are stuck at 32 degrees or colder, the rain will turn to freezing rain on impact. That could make for slick roads, the weather service warned.

 

"The further south you are, the sooner the changeover is going to occur," Nierenberg said.

This is the projected timing of the switch from frozen precipitation to rain, based on geographical region:

• Across southeastern New Jersey, the changeover is expected Monday afternoon.
• Across eastern New Jersey, the changeover is expected by Monday evening.
• Across the I-95 corridor, there may be a brief mixing of snow and sleet during the late afternoon and early evening before a conversion to all rain, the weather service said.
• In most of northern New Jersey, as well as the Lehigh Valley and Berks County, there will likely be a prolonged period of freezing rain, with the changeover to all rain not happening until daybreak Tuesday. 
• For extreme northern New Jersey and the Poconos in northern Pennsylvania, the switch to all rain may not occur until late morning or early afternoon Tuesday, so that region could be hit with an extended period of icing.

"The most significant icing threat is in North Jersey and in northeastern Pennsylvania," Nierenberg said. "The good news for (Monday) is a lot of the schools are closed and there's going to be a lighter commute. If there's any silver lining, that is it." 

Storm advisories

Winter weather advisories that were issued Sunday for most of central and northern New Jersey have been expanded to include the entire Garden State. The advisories start and end at various times for different regions.

* One advisory is in effect from early Monday morning through 4 p.m. in Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and southeastern Burlington.   

* Another advisory is in effect from early Monday morning through 10 p.m. in Camden, Gloucester, Ocean, Salem, northern Burlington and western Monmouth.  

* An advisory is in effect from early Monday morning through 10 p.m. for Mercer and Middlesex counties in New Jersey, as well as Chester, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties, plus lower Bucks County in Pennsylvania.

* An advisory is in effect from 10 a.m. Monday to 1 a.m. Tuesday for Hunterdon, Morris, Sussex and Warren counties in New Jersey. The same advisory is also active for Berks, Lehigh, Northampton, upper Bucks, western Chester and western Montgomery counties in Pennsylvania.

* Another advisory is in effect from 1 p.m. Monday through midnight Tuesday for Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union counties, as well as New York City and Long Island.

* A separate advisory is in effect from 1 p.m. Monday to 7 a.m. Tuesday for western Passaic and western Bergen counties, as well as southern Connecticut and the lower Hudson Valley in New York. 

Here are the snowfall projections from the Presidents Day storm for eastern Pennsylvania and most of New Jersey, left, and northeastern New Jersey, New York City and parts of Connecticut, right. (National Weather Service) 

Snow and ice projections

The far northern and northwestern sections of New Jersey could get 3 to 4 inches of snow and a coating of ice before the precipitation all changes to rain. Some spots in northern Sussex County could get hit with 4 to 6 inches of snow.

Areas to the east and south of I-95 could see 1 to 2 inches of snow and some sleet and freezing rain, but likely not as much as that in northern New Jersey.

On Tuesday, rain could be heavy at times across the entire state, posing a risk of flooding, the weather service said.

Temperatures rising

After another frigid night, temperatures will be hovering in the single digits and teens early Monday morning, then slowly rising as the day progresses, forecasters said. The mercury is expected to rise into the low 30s in northern and western areas during the afternoon and into the upper 30s to low 40s in southern and eastern counties.

On Monday night, temperatures will remain in the 30s in most areas, before rising into the 50s on Tuesday, setting the stage for the rain.

Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

A soothing petting session with your dog while watching your favorite television program is an excellent relaxation routine.

As people and their pets start a new year, there are a number of ways to make resolutions beneficial for both.

According to a 2016 Milk-Bone Canine Resolutions Survey, the top pledge for the new year is "I will spend more time with my dog." Other pledges range from both humans and dogs eating more nutritiously to personal care including weight loss and dental hygiene.

Milk-Bone pet insights expert Jesse Vasquez has some suggestions.

"Have a resolutions buddy." Because dogs follow through with rituals even better than humans, you can better stick to your personal health and wellness goals by including your pet. The survey noted that 55 percent of dog parents say their dog helps them exercise more.

"Create nighttime rituals." Because such rituals help calm and relax people and pets, try to stick with a regular routine that focuses on stress-reducing activities like a soothing petting session with your dog while watching your favorite television program.

"Give Yourself a reward." Just as dogs love treats when they exhibit good behavior, make sure you regularly reward yourself and your dog for following through on resolutions.

Here's a gallery of adoptable pets from northern and central New Jersey. Other galleries of pets in need can be seen here and here.

Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find The Star-Ledger on Facebook.

Officials estimate $82.6 million in damage in 17 New Jersey counties from January's weekend winter storm. Watch video

New Jersey lawmakers are working together to bring $82 million in disaster aid to the state in response to January's devastating winter storm.

Gov. Chris Christie made a request Thursday to President Barack Obama for a disaster declaration for the state. If a disaster declaration is made, New Jersey will be eligible for federal funds that will cover the cost of the storm response.

A day after Christie's request, the 14-member New Jersey congressional delegation joined in asking Obama for the approval.

According to the request, officials estimate $82.6 million in damage in 17 of New Jersey's 21 counties.

The following are estimations per county included in the request of how much damage the storm caused:

- Atlantic County: $2,294,483

- Bergen County: $7,456,765

- Burlington County: $4,745,251

- Camden County: $2,971,946

- Cape May County: $4,207,200

- Cumberland County: $913,00

- Essex County: $7,975,382

- Hudson County: $10,886,929

- Hunterdon County: $2,736,849

- Mercer County: $4,732,611

- Middlesex County: $7,293,870

- Monmouth County: $9,271,521

- Morris County: $4,281,244

- Ocean County: $6,419,301

- Somerset County: $1,435,551

- Union County: $4,621,985

- Warren County: $419,709

These figures were sent to Obama as part of Christie's request for a disaster declaration.

The effect of the storm runs from Jan. 22 to Jan. 29. The highest reported snowfall during the winter storm was in Bernards Township in Somerset County. In addition to snow, high winds and flooding caused damage to property and cut power to 270,000 homes.

Coastal flooding was caused by record high tides and winds that reached 60 miles per hour offshore.

Officials compiled the estimates during a preliminary damage assessment between Feb. 2 and Feb. 5. Assisting in the estimate was the state Office of Emergency Management, state Department of Environmental Protection and Bureau of Coastal Engineering. 

The following are the top 20 municipalities most affected by the Jan. 23 winter storm and the amount of estimated damage from the storm, according to Christie's report:

- Toms River Township, Ocean County: $2,225,000

- Avon-by-the-Sea, Monmouth County: $1,263,304

- Brigantine, Atlantic County: $1,013,500

- Sea Isle City, Cape May County: $975,000

- Middletown, Monmouth County: $695,042

- Brick Township, Ocean County: $676,000

- West Orange, Essex County: $666,120

- Marlboro, Monmouth County, $626,362

- Atlantic City, Atlantic County: $570,000

- Gloucester Township, Camden County: $570,000

- Union City, Hudson County: $551,890

- West Wildwood, Cape May County: $550,000

- Bayonne, Hudson County: $489,489

- Long Beach, Ocean County: $475,000

- North Wildwood, Cape May County: $459,000

- Avalon, Cape May County: $438,000

- Wildwood, Cape May County: $420,000

- Manalapan, Monmouth County: $413,196

- Parsippany, Morris County: $350,611

- North Arlington, Bergen County: $350,000

A winter weather advisory remains in effect until 1 a.m. Tuesday for Northampton, Lehigh, Warren and Hunterdon counties.

Snow that has fallen throughout the afternoon in the Lehigh Valley will change over to sleet and then freezing rain Monday night as temperatures climb, according to the National Weather Service.

 

A winter weather advisory is in effect for Lehigh, Northampton, Warren, Hunterdon and upper Bucks counties through 1 a.m. Tuesday.

In Pennsylvania, Department of Transportation officials temporarily reduced the speed limit to 45 mph on several highways, including interstates 78, 80, 81, 176 and 380 and routes 22, 33, 309, 209, 222 and 422.

The reduced speed limits also applied to the entire stretch of the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, from Plymouth Meeting to Clarks Summit; and from the east-west Turnpike from Breezewood east to the New Jersey line.

In the Lehigh Valley and most of northern New Jersey, there will be a prolonged period of freezing rain, as the changeover to all rain will not occur until late Monday, the weather service said. Two to 4 inches of snow is possible, in addition to up to 0.10 inches of ice.

The changing precipitation is expected to make traveling treacherous.

For the Poconos and extreme northern New Jersey, the changeover to all rain may not occur until early Tuesday morning, with an extended period of icing. Two to 4 inches of snow is possible with up to 0.25 inches of ice, the weather service said.

Weather service meteorologists say very cold air has been slow to move out, but temperatures will slowly rise above freezing Monday night into Tuesday. Temperatures will rise from southeast to northwest and are expected to climb into the mid 30s overnight.

Precipitation will change to rain in most places after midnight, but a few pockets of freezing rain could linger overnight, the weather service said.

Jim Deegan may be reached at jdeegan@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @jim_deegan. Find lehighvalleylive on Facebook.

A winter weather advisory remains in effect until 1 a.m. Tuesday for Northampton, Lehigh, Warren and Hunterdon counties.

Snow that has fallen throughout the afternoon in the Lehigh Valley will change over to sleet and then freezing rain Monday night as temperatures climb, according to the National Weather Service.

 

A winter weather advisory is in effect for Lehigh, Northampton, Warren, Hunterdon and upper Bucks counties through 1 a.m. Tuesday.

In Pennsylvania, Department of Transportation officials temporarily reduced the speed limit to 45 mph on several highways, including interstates 78, 80, 81, 176 and 380 and routes 22, 33, 309, 209, 222 and 422.

The reduced speed limits also applied to the entire stretch of the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, from Plymouth Meeting to Clarks Summit; and from the east-west Turnpike from Breezewood east to the New Jersey line.

In the Lehigh Valley and most of northern New Jersey, there will be a prolonged period of freezing rain, as the changeover to all rain will not occur until late Monday, the weather service said. Two to 4 inches of snow is possible, in addition to up to 0.10 inches of ice.

The changing precipitation is expected to make traveling treacherous.

For the Poconos and extreme northern New Jersey, the changeover to all rain may not occur until early Tuesday morning, with an extended period of icing. Two to 4 inches of snow is possible with up to 0.25 inches of ice, the weather service said.

Weather service meteorologists say very cold air has been slow to move out, but temperatures will slowly rise above freezing Monday night into Tuesday. Temperatures will rise from southeast to northwest and are expected to climb into the mid 30s overnight.

Precipitation will change to rain in most places after midnight, but a few pockets of freezing rain could linger overnight, the weather service said.

Jim Deegan may be reached at jdeegan@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @jim_deegan. Find lehighvalleylive on Facebook.

A winter weather advisory remains in effect until 1 a.m. Tuesday for Northampton, Lehigh, Warren and Hunterdon counties.

Snow that has fallen throughout the afternoon in the Lehigh Valley will change over to sleet and then freezing rain Monday night as temperatures climb, according to the National Weather Service.

 

A winter weather advisory is in effect for Lehigh, Northampton, Warren, Hunterdon and upper Bucks counties through 1 a.m. Tuesday.

In Pennsylvania, Department of Transportation officials temporarily reduced the speed limit to 45 mph on several highways, including interstates 78, 80, 81, 176 and 380 and routes 22, 33, 309, 209, 222 and 422.

The reduced speed limits also applied to the entire stretch of the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, from Plymouth Meeting to Clarks Summit; and from the east-west Turnpike from Breezewood east to the New Jersey line.

In the Lehigh Valley and most of northern New Jersey, there will be a prolonged period of freezing rain, as the changeover to all rain will not occur until late Monday, the weather service said. Two to 4 inches of snow is possible, in addition to up to 0.10 inches of ice.

The changing precipitation is expected to make traveling treacherous.

For the Poconos and extreme northern New Jersey, the changeover to all rain may not occur until early Tuesday morning, with an extended period of icing. Two to 4 inches of snow is possible with up to 0.25 inches of ice, the weather service said.

Weather service meteorologists say very cold air has been slow to move out, but temperatures will slowly rise above freezing Monday night into Tuesday. Temperatures will rise from southeast to northwest and are expected to climb into the mid 30s overnight.

Precipitation will change to rain in most places after midnight, but a few pockets of freezing rain could linger overnight, the weather service said.

Jim Deegan may be reached at jdeegan@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @jim_deegan. Find lehighvalleylive on Facebook.