Update: Schools to Close Thursday

UPDATE: 10:52 p.m. The School District of the Chathams has canceled classes tomorrow.

The announcement came during a snowy day that caused plenty of disruptions. Many businesses were closed, and some decided to close early.

Businesses such as Cafe Beethoven, Sherwin-Williams and Bank of America along Main Street were closed today. And other stores—such as Dunkin' Donuts and Chatham Sandwich Shop—closed after the lunchtime rush.

Plows are making their way down borough and township streets tonight to clear snow off the roads.

Township Department of Public Works Director Joe Barilla said this morning that every one of the department's 16 trucks are out and about right now.

"They've already been plowed once, and we're going out for a second time," Barilla said.

He said crews would break throughout the day and then go out to plow more snow as it continued to accumulate.

The storm dropped more than a foot of snow on the area.

Borough DPW Director Bob Venezia said the department's employees were on a rotation today. Each worker will be on for a 12-hour shift and will then take a six hour break. After that, they will go back to work.

Because of the storm's nature, Venezia said workers will likely be out all night.

"Our hope is between today and around 6 a.m. tomorrow we'll have the town in good shape," he said.

A FirstEnergy power outage map says there are no power outages in either the township or borough. 

The School District of the Chathams canceled classes today, and all school-related activities were canceled in anticipation of what is becoming a major storm. It remains to be seen whether school will be canceled Thursday.

Visibility will be limited because of 35 to 45 mph wind gusts throughout the afternoon. Ten to 18 inches are expected to fall. A winter storm warning is in effect for Morris County until midnight.

Still, people traipsed to the Chatham train station this morning so they could go to work. Most sat inside the waiting area as they prepared for the train to come, though a brave few ventured outside to watch for the 7:03 a.m. train to New York's Penn Station.

"I look cold, don't I?" said Charles Williams as he stood outside in the snow on the train platform, huddled in his coat.

New Jersey Transit has cross-honored tickets all day and is now operating on a reduced schedule. Bus service has been canceled.

Township and borough offices were also closed today, as was the Senior Center of the Chathams. 

For many, there is also the matter of clearing the sidewalk in front of one's business or home. Brian Rilee, who lives in Maplewood and works for Driscoll Real Estate in Chatham, was shoveling snow on Fairmount Avenue just after 7 a.m. this morning. He said he was relatively sure he would be out again later in the day doing the same.

"This is only the beginning," he said.

His prophecy proved correct. Snow began falling at a rate of about one inch per hour beginning at 2 p.m.