Bookmark this post to keep up to date on snow news throughout the weekend

Update: The first snowstorm of 2012 is out of the way and now the end of the weekend lies ahead. As of late Saturday night, the National Weather Service was calling for a slight chance of rain after 4 p.m. on Sunday. The NWS was also predicting slight chance of rain or freezing rain before 4 a.m. on Monday.

Update: As of mid-day Saturday, the National Weather Service updated its forecast to predict snow would continue until about 1 p.m. on Saturday. The NWS estimates 2 to 4 inches of total accumulation. 

We'll be updating this post with any updates and advisories affecting the Morris, Somerset and Sussex areas throughout the weekend. Got some news to share? Tell us in the comments below. Got a snow photo? Hit the "upload photos and videos" button by the rest of the photos on this post.

Here's what we know so far. Check back often:

• Drive Safely:
  
  • The Morris Plains Police Department released a Nixel Alert Sunday morning reminding drivers to remove all snow and ice from their vehicles before driving. Police added, "It's the law and it helps keep the roadways safe. Drive Carefully."
  • Bernards Township Police on the road said there had been slipping and sliding by local drivers.
  • Montville Police had responded to four "minor" accidents as of 1 p.m. Saturday.
• Good News: For those of you who want to take advantage of Saturday's snow, that is. The Mountain Creek ski area is open! As of mid-day Saturday, weather near Vernon was a little colder than in other areas and it was still snowing. 
• The storm has forced some Saturday events to be postponed:
  •  RJ Julia's in Madison has rescheduled its "Kids' Korner" for Saturday, Jan. 28 at 2 p.m. Further updates will become available on Monday. Also, check RJ Julia's Facebook page for more information.
  • The United Methodist Church of Lake Hopatcong canceled Saturday's "Coffee Hour With Jesus" (rescheduled on Saturday, Feb. 18), and its free spaghetti dinner (resumes next Saturday at 6 p.m.)
• Several schools are cancelling all activities for Saturday and closing facilities: We know about Basking Ridge, Parsippany, Montville, Madison and Warren so far.
  
  • Saturday's Chatham recreation basketball games have been canceled.
• Libraries are closing too:
  • The Madison Public Library has canceled all of its events on Saturday, including the magic show scheduled for 2 p.m. In addition, the library is scheduled to open at 1 p.m., weather permitting.
  • The Bridgewater Township Library is scheduled to open Saturday at noon.
  • All basketball games scheduled for Saturday at Jefferson Township Middle School have been canceled.
  • The Montville Township Public Library announced that it will be closed Saturday.
  • The Kinnelon Public Library announced it will be closed Saturday. All events, including Saturday's job seekers class, are canceled.
  • Branches of the Somerset County Library System have changes in hours due to the inclement weather.
    • The Bridgewater, Hillsborough and Mary Jacobs libraries have delayed their opening until noon.
    • Warren Township, Watchung, North Plainfield, and Peapack & Gladstone Libraries are closed all day Saturday.
    • The Bound Brook and Somerville Libraries are operating with normal Saturday hours.
• Towns were getting ready Friday: Read all about preparations in Hillsborough, Kinnelon, Butler and Bloomingdale; Montville; Parsippany; the Chathams; Madison; Long Valley; Morristown,Morris Township and Morris Plains. (Morris Township's DWP Foreman: The snow's starting late at night, so "I’m gonna take a nap.")
• Morristown Parking Authority Opening Garages: As with past storms, the Morristown Parking Authority will have their garages–DeHart Street, Ann Street, Cattano Avenue and Vail Mansion–open to residents for free starting at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20. All vehicles taking advantage of the free parking need to be out of the garages by 8 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 23.
• NJ Transit Cross-Honoring In Effect: NJ Transit will cross-honor tickets on Saturday, Jan. 21.
• If You Happen to be on the Internet: What a coincidence, so are we! And, so is Craigslist, where some items your neighbors are selling might be appropriate for this weekend weather.
• Clear Your Sidewalk When It's Done: Rockaway Township police are reminding residents they have to to clear snow from their sidewalks within 24 hours of the snow ending. The rule applies in lots of other towns, too.
• Know About Nixle: Lots of our towns and police departments distribute emergency and community notifications through the Nixle service. Even if your town isn't one of them, it's worth checking out to see if you want to get alerts about, say, traffic issues a town over. Of course, you can keep checking back with Patch for updates, too.
  • The Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department is asking people to remove cars from the street to allow snow plowing.

This post is shared by several Patch sites in Morris, Somerset and Sussex Counties. Comments below may be by readers of any of those sites.