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A snowfall unlike any other

YOU READ IT HERE FIRST (midnight): Historic snowfall? How many storms knock out power to 2 million people? How many dump 20 inches across parts of New York and New England? How often do temps drop below freezing — before Halloween? We’ve had four October snowstorms the past 135 years. None have been this nasty.

Photo Credit: by Stella Tulli
Photo Credit: by Stella Tulli
Photo Credit: by Stella Tulli
Photo Credit: by Stella Tulli
Photo Credit: by Stella Tulli
Photo Credit: by Stella Tulli
Photo Credit: by Stella Tulli
Photo Credit: by Stella Tulli


YOU SAW IT HERE FIRST: Officials throughout Bergen County are urging residents not to do any tree cutting of their own, after a 55-year-old man fell from a ladder and had to be hospitalized. For proof of the danger, you need only look at CLIFFVIEW PILOT video of a dead electrical box that exploded after its power returned. CLICK HERE ….


And get this: Temperatures could break 60 degrees by Thursday.

Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan announced a snow emergency for the county through CLIFFVIEW PILOT Saturday night. That meant only essential vehicles could be on the road.

Tree clearings had to wait for another blast that began around 10 p.m. and quickly turned to light flakes and rain. The winds have also died down.

However, a

last hurrah is expected overnight, according to the National Weather Service. Could be 3 to 7 inches — which means we likely won’t see clearings until sunrise. The dark blue streak heading northeast means the worst is over here (NewJerseyWeather.com)



Fort Lee Road in Leonia, 9W in Englewood Cliffs and Central Boulevard in Palisades Park remained closed both ways headed toward midnight. Power was out on Route 4 from Fort Lee all the way to the Garden State Plaza in Paramus.

Old Hook Road was closed from Tillman Road in Westwood to the Emerson border with lines down. The traffic signal at Old Hook and Kinderkamack was out.

Christine Royland of Westwood sent this shot of her house
(CLIFFVIEW PILOT photo)



The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood and Bergen Regional Medical Center in Paramus were both operating on generators.

“New Milford suffered numerous trees and wires down. Several areas of the borough without power,” Chief Frank Papapietro told CLIFFVIEW PILOT. “The police day tour was held over and Auxiliary Police called in. DPW has plow crews and tree crews in service. Fire department and EMS are also active and assisting.”

Accumulation from the unusually early and powerful nor’easter will easily top a foot around here.


Although few left home, it was lights out at a ton of businesses. On 9W alone, there was Grissini’s, Assembly, The Bicycle Club, Cafe Italiano, the Cliffs Steakhouse, among others, all without power.

Donovan urged anyone without power to immediately call either 1-800-436-PSEG (7734) or O&R: 1-877-434-4100.

“Do not assume that your service provider knows you are without power,” she said.

The Bergen County Office of Emergency Management brought extra dispatchers to its command center to assist in case area emergency departments lose power.


CLIFFVIEW PILOT VIDEO: If you haven’t taken warnings about the extreme dangers of power lines downed or damaged by the weekend snowstorm seriously, have a look at this video of an electrical box that first smolders, then flares — and then explodes, sending sparks flying. CLICK HERE ….

The county Department of Public Works was holding back, waiting for the snow to stop before removing fallen trees. That meant PSE&G was sitting tight, as well. They’re out there now.

What was originally expected to be 4 inches turned into a lot more than the weather services bargained for.

“The forecast was off a little bit,” Fairview Detective Capt. Martin Kahn deadpanned earlier today.

Fairview is one of several towns that had shelter areas open and was ready to accept those in need. Cliffside Park declared a snow emergency.

“Tons of trees down throughout the Ridgefield. A lot of the side roads are blocked off from Broad Avenue and Shaler Boulevard, due to downed trees and wires,” a law enforcement source working Saturday night told CLIFFVIEW PILOT. “Power seems to be holding though.” Some photos are better left without captions. Thank you, Anonymous. (CLIFFVIEW PILOT photo)



After pulling his car into the garage Saturday afternoon, a Washington Township man reconsidered his plans to shovel, figuring he’d wait until later. That’s when BAM! A tree fell outside, crushing his mailbox. “Scary stuff,” his wife told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.

A tree that fell mid-afternoon on Garrison Avenue in Teaneck, on the corner of Beverly Lane about two blocks north of Cedar Lane missed the house on the other side by a few feet (see photos, below).

Fortunately, there was no damage and no injures. But the street remained closed.

Mike Thibault of Elmwood Park took this photo of his house (CLIFFVIEW PILOT)

Englewood Mayor Frank Huttle urged people to beware of downed lines, which should always be considered “live.”

“Do not approach or drive over a downed line and do not touch anything that it might be in contact with,” the mayor wrote, quoting PS&G. He reminded callers to give the nearest cross street when reporting locations.

Initial reports of closings included the Garden State Plaza in Paramus, and in Teaneck: CVS, Bravo Supermarket, Dunkin Donuts.

Most Stop & Shops were open.


DO YOU have any snow damage photos? News of closings? Roads you know are clear? Post comments below or send photos to cliffviewpilot@gmail.com


Road closures:

NJ 17 Northbound, North of Racetrack Rd, (MM18.0) , Ho-Ho-Kus, right lane closed – Downed tree

NJ 17 Southbound, Hollywood Av, (MM18.3) , Ho-Ho-Kus, right lane closed – Downed tree

NJ 17 Southbound, Sheridan Av, (MM19.0) , Waldwick, right and center lanes closed – Downed tree

NJ 93 Both Directions, CR 501/Central Blvd, (MM1.2) , Palisades Park, all lanes closed – Downed tree

NJ 93 Both Directions, CR 56/Fort Lee Rd, (MM2.2) , Leonia, all lanes closed and detoured – Downed tree

US 9W Both Directions, John St, (MM2.1) , Englewood Cliffs, all lanes closed – Downed wires


Garrison Avenue, Teaneck (CLIFFVIEW PILOT photo by Jason Occipinti)



Outwater Lane, Garfield
(CLIFFVIEW PILOT photo by Stella Tulli)

 


 


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