WEDNESDAY MORNING UPDATE: Snowfall forecasts now up to 2 feet for some spots

Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday declared a state of emergency as New Jersey braces for another big coastal storm that could dump up to a foot of snow in parts of the state.

The state of emergency is effective at 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Although the storm is not expected to be as strong as the monster nor'easter that ravaged New Jersey and other states along the East Coast on Friday, it is expected to bring a big mix of snow, rain and gusty winds.

"It's expected to hit us tonight through tomorrow, bringing wet, heavy snow," Murphy said during a news conference at the State Police compound in West Trenton. "Please do not venture out on the roads during the storm."

A decision on whether state offices will be closed Wednesday will be made later in the day, Murphy said.

The governor said he doesn't "want folks to panic." But stressed people should use good judgement.

"We urge you not to venture out into the storm," he said. "If you do have to go outside, please exercise extreme caution."

The governor's declaration means people should stay off the roads so they do not interfere with law enforcement and emergency responders. Based on the latest projections, forecasters are expecting the storm to be at its worst Wednesday afternoon into Wednesday evening.

Nearly 40,000 utility customers are still without power from the last storm to hit the state, Murphy said. Utilities are still working to restore service to those homes and businesses, but some may go into the next storm without electricity.

"There are many folks out there who are frustrated and that includes me," Murphy said.

"God-willing they'll get it back before the storm hits," he said. "There may be some, we're hearing, who may not get it back."

The new storm will likely result in a new round of outages, Murphy said.

The National Weather Service is forecasting as much as 8 to 12 inches of snow to accumulate across the northern half of New Jersey, with perhaps more in hilly areas of Warren County and eastern Pennsylvania.

State emergency management officials have the power to redirect traffic or close roads to protect public safety, according to state law. Local, county and state authorities can close roads or cut off access to shopping centers or business plazas if conditions become dangerous.

The governor may also declare government offices closed, but he cannot compel individual private businesses to shut down operations. An emergency declaration doesn't mean motorists will be ticketed for merely being on the roads.

Declaring a state of emergency also allows states to qualify for federal funds that can be used for immediate response and recovery.

Garden State residents may consult the state's emergency preparedness website, www.ready.nj.gov for further information. Information about road conditions will be available at the New Jersey Department of Transportation website: http://www.511nj.org/.

It's the first time Murphy has declared a state of emergency since he took office on Jan. 16.

He made the announcement at the New Jersey Regional Operations Intelligence Center in West Trenton. The governor was flanked by members of his senior staff and top administration officials.

NJ Advance Media staff writers Susan K. Livio and Len Melisurgo contributed to this report.

Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook.