Update (10:00 p.m.) Winter Storm Hits Westfield

The latest winter storm continues to worsen with heavier snow expected throughout the night and at least one area school closing on Friday.

Holy Trinity School has canceled classes on their Westfield and Mountainside campuses on Friday and as of 10 p.m., there has been no announcement on the public schools in town. The National Weather Service has extended the winter storm warning for Westfield until 6 a.m. on Saturday morning.

The high school has announced that the field trip for the band and orchestra to perform in the elementary schools has been canceled for Friday.

The heavy wet snow has been causing slush conditions on roads over town starting in the early morning hours of Thursday. The Department of Public Works has been working during the day to clear slush from the roads on Thursday.

Schools Superintendent Margaret Dolan announced in the early morning hours of Thursday  that public schools across town would be holding a half day, four hour session. The predictions of heavier snow in the afternoon hours were the factor behind Dolan's decision. Students could be seen leaving the high school around Noon as the school started emptying out. Heavy traffic was reported around all schools after dismissal at 12:30 p.m. as parents picking up students drove slower in light of the weather conditions.

New Jersey Transit is continuing to cross honor all train, bus and light rail tickets through 5 a.m. on Saturday. They are predicting delays on the service in and out of New York during the day on Friday due to the storm.

In the early afternoon on Thursday, there were several reports of disabled school buses in town, which were attributed to mechanical difficulties with the bus and not the weather conditions.

The predictions of wet heavy snow have been correct with many utility lines hanging lower than usual when coated in the snow. Tree limbs battered in the blizzard two weeks ago are at danger of falling in the heavy snow.

The downtown was still busy at Noon on Thursday with traffic backing up along East Broad Street and people darting between shops and downtown restaurants in the lunchtime rush. Downtown businesses were preparing for the influx of students in light of the early dismissal while the weather still held up with largely wet snow and slush on the ground.

The Downtown Westfield Corporation announced late Thursday afternoon that Restaurant Week, which was due to end on Friday would be extended until March 4. In a statement, DWC Executive Director Sherry Cronin said that the program was being extended because of the storm.