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The NJ Turnpike has warning signs about the pending Blizzard as New Jersey is in full preparation for blizzard in Newark, NJ 1/26/15

(William Perlman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

EAST LANSING -- Michigan State's Tuesday night game against Rutgers has been postponed as a blizzard bears down on the East Coast, Rutgers announced Monday afternoon.

A makeup date for the game was not immediately announced.

The Michigan State team charter was scheduled to leave Lansing for Trenton, New Jersey at around 3 p.m. Monday with the hope of landing before the most severe weather hit. The team altered its practice and travel plans to leave several hours earlier than originally scheduled.

As of his noon press conference, Spartans coach Tom Izzo said the team planned to leave East Lansing and play the game as scheduled after talks with Rutgers and the Big Ten throughout the morning.

But a few hours later Monday afternoon, the decision had been made to postpone the game. Izzo said it marks the first time in his tenure a game will be postponed for weather reasons.

The National Weather Service on Monday afternoon was forecasting the Piscataway, New Jersey area would receive 18 to 24 inches of snow between Monday afternoon and Tuesday, with winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour and gusts up to 45. Whiteout conditions are expected, with possible road closures.

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