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MIDNIGHT UPDATE: 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. CLICK HERE….
We won’t see the last drop until possibly around 2 a.m., according to the National Weather Service.
Meanwhile, trees are falling, roads are blocked and power is going out across North Jersey.
The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood and Bergen Regional Medical Center in Paramus are both operating on generators. This 8 p.m. map shows another heavy band of snow bearing down on Bergen (NewJerseyWeather.com)
As of 8 p.m., the number of PSE&G customers without power due to the wet, heavy snow and extensive tree damage is about 350,000, with most of the outages in the company’s northern and central counties, including Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Union.
Accumulation from the unusually early and powerful nor’easter could top a foot around here, but there’s worse news: High winds are expected, which could spell more trouble.
Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan urged anyone without power to immediately call either 1-800-436-PSEG (7734) or O&R: 1-877-434-4100.
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 ….
“Do not assume that your service provider knows you are without power,” she said. The Bergen County Office of Emergency Management has brought in extra dispatchers to its command center to assist in case area emergency departments lose power. Mike Thibault of Elmwood Park took this photo of his house (CLIFFVIEW PILOT)
The county Department of Public Works is on the road, trying to remove fallen trees. No one has a count yet — there have been so many.
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 have shelter areas open and ready to accept those in need. Cliffside Park has 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 tonight tells 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 this afternoon, a Woodcliff Lake 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 this 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 remains closed for the foreseeable future.
Englewood Mayor Frank Huttle urges 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 the location.
Initial reports of closings include the Garden State Plaza in Paramus, and in Teaneck: CVS, Bravo Supermarket, Dunkin Donuts.
Most Stop & Shops are open.
Outages reported by:
PSE&G – 150,00
JCP&L – 95,000 in North Jersey (3,000 Central)
Orange & Rockland – 4,000
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)
(CLIFFVIEW PILOT photo by Stella Tulli)
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