UPDATE: Heavy Snow and Wind Expected Until 2 a.m. Sunday, Power Outages Climb

As of 6 p.m. Saturday, power outages continue to rise across northern New Jersey, PSE&G is reporting more than 200,000 customers without power across the state, including scattered outages in Woodbridge. Other outages include: 

• Between 5,000 and 10,000 customers each in Westfield and Plainfield
• Between 2,000 and 5,000 customers each in Rahway, Scotch Plains and Union
• Up to 2,000 customers each in Linden, Elizabeth, Clark, Cranford and New Providence

PSE&G spokeswoman Melissa Ficuciello said outage numbers continue to climb as the snow continues to fall.

"We do not give any specifics out during a storm of this magnitude," she said in phone interview Saturday night. As far as when power will be restored, Ficuciello said: "I don't have any firm time but they are saying as long as Monday."

Ficuciello said outages are likely the result of heavy snow weighing on the lines or weighing on the trees that then fall onto power lines.

Jersey Central Power & Light is also reporting about 80,000 outages across the state. It's outage map on the website has been down for most of the afternoon due to routine maintenance, according to a message on the website.

The heavy, dense snow is also affecting New Jersey Transit.

• The Raritan Valley Line service is temporarily suspended between Union and Newark Penn Station. Bus service is being provided.
• The Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast Line service is restored in and out of New York subject to 30 minute delays due to signal problems. Rail tickets/passes being cross-honored on PATH at Hoboken, Newark and 33rd Street, and on NJT buses.
• Service on the Morris & Essex Line is suspended in both directions due to weather related power problems. Cross honoring NJT & PATH and private carriers, EXCEPT Lakeland.
• The Montclair Branch service is suspended in both directions due to weather-related problems.

Area airports are also reporting delays. Check your flight status online before heading there if you have travel plans.

The National Weather Service's winter storm warning remains in effect until 2 a.m. Sunday. Emergency Management officials across Union County are urging residents to stay at home and off the roads due to dangerous driving conditions and downed trees and power lines throughout the region.

Update 2:30 p.m.

The National Weather Service has upgraded the winter weather advisory to a winter storm warning that is expected to bring heavy snow and wind to Union County through 2 a.m. Sunday.

The historic early season snowstorm is affecting the tri-state region and could drop anywhere between 8-12 inches of snow. Downed trees and power outages are also expected and traffic will be extremely hazardous after dark, according to the NationalWeather Service.

As of 2:30 p.m., nearly 5,000 Jersey Central Power and Light customers are without power in Union County, including:

• 1,252 customers in Berkeley Heights
• 890 customers in Murray Hill
• 1,302 customers in New Providence
• 134 customers in Springfield
• 1,134 customers in Summit

PSE&G is also reporting major outages, including:

• Between 2,000 and 5,000 outages in Scotch Plains
• Between 500 and 2,000 outages in Clark
• Between 2,000 and 5,000 outages in Union
• About 500 outages each in Cranford and Westfield

Downtown Westfield is reported to be without power. Police and Fire departments are out in droves across Union County.

NJ TRANSIT UPDATE:  Morris & Essex Line, Gladstone Branch, and Montclair Branch service is suspended in both directions due to weather-related problems. Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast Line service is subject to 30-minute delays in/out of New York due to signal problems. Cross honoring on NJT bus and PATH. The Raritan Valley Line service is temporarily suspended between Union and Newark Penn Station. Bus service is being provided. Slippery rails are expected to cause continued delays.