In Jersey, a replay of the Dec. 26 storm

An intense storm that blanketed South Jersey with up to a foot or more of heavy wet snow today delayed the opening of state offices for two hours, forced schools to cancel classes, and knocked power out to about 2,000 people in Camden and Burlington counties.

Numerous minor accidents, abandoned vehicles and downed tree limbs were reported, authorities said, as hundreds of snow plows fanned out across the area to clear the roads.

"This storm was similar to the one we had in December," said State Police spokesman Stephen Jones. "People should have known it was coming – but it surprised many with its intensity and the depth of the snow."

Jones should know. He tried to head home from the State Police Headquarters in West Trenton at about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday night, but didn't get far.

Piles of plowed snow left parts of Route 29 impassable and he was forced to turn back to the office.

"A five-minute loop turned into an hour," he said, after getting stuck and digging himself out on Rt. 29 and again on the state police campus.

"The snow was coming down that quick," he said."It was beautiful and impressive, but if you're on the roadway, it was a pain."

Jones spent the night at headquarters and planned to try again for home later today – after the roads were cleared.

"People should stay home," he said. "If they have to venture out, they should fill their gas tank at the first opportunity, and carry an emergency kit to keep warm dry and fed in case they're stuck a number of hours. They should also take other things like cat litter, sand, a snow shovel and ice scraper."

Many other motorists, however, didn't heed Jones' advice to avoid travel on Wednesday night and this morning, and were stuck along roads all over the region. Many were ordered towed by the state police so plows could do their work.

"A lot of ramps are still snow-covered and cars are getting caught there," Jones said. "There are a lot of small accident and disabled vehicles."

At least three tractor trailers were disabled on I-676 in Camden. Other trucks were disabled on the ramp from Route 130 to Route 73 in Pennsauken, on Route 206 in Bordentown, and on U.S. 322 in Woolwich Township.

"The snow plows are catching up because it stopped earlier than expected," Jones said. "But this was a very slippery type of snow."

It was heavy, too, and that meant problems for utility crews.

Deann Muziker, a PSE&G spokeswoman, said at least 2,000 customers lost power in Cherry Hill and Voorhees in Camden County and Medford in Burlington County.

"The system is operating, considering the storm," said Muziker. "But this is a wet, heavy snow and that can cause tree limbs and [utility] lines to come down. We're holding up pretty well, though."

The storm downed a tree Thursday that fell across southbound I-295, south of exit 26 at Bellmawr, forcing the closure of the right lane, authorities said.

Shortly before the morning rush hour, trucks were plowing and salting across the region.

More than 100 trucks and other equipment, including a cement truck equipped with a plow, also were clearing roads in Camden County.

"If people must drive, they need to proceed with extreme caution due to the hazardous conditions . . ..," said Camden County Freeholder Ian Leonard, liaison to the county's Public Works Department.

"People should be careful when they start digging out . . . since the heavy snow is much tougher to deal with."