How Much Snow Did The Nor'easter Bring To Bergen County?

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A "major" nor'easter hit the Bergen County area on Wednesday, producing school closures, altering parking regulations and even producing a snow emergency in one township.

The National Weather Service labeled the "major" system a "nor'easter" since it's expected to produce strong, sustained damaging winds and precipitation over a 24-hour period on Wednesday.

The storm was projected to dump up to a foot of snow in the northern part of the state, making roadways dangerous, and potentially knocking out power for multiple communities.

But the loftier side of those projections didn't come to fruition overnight.

Here are the latest snowfalls totals from across the county:

• Franklin Lakes — 6.6 in.
• Westwood — 6.5 in.
• New Milford — 5.7 in.
• Glen Rock — 5.5. in.
• Ridgewood — 5.1 in.
• East Rutherford — 3.3 in.

Only two hours into the storm and the Ridgewood Office of Emergency Management said roads were "slick and icy."

But power outages haven't posed a problem for the region.

PSE&G only reports 17 outages in Bergen County, all of them in Haworth.

Not only are individual communities being impacted, but, in some cases, county wide initiatives are also announcing postponements. (More on your communities below.)

Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco announced the county has preemptively canceled COVID-19 testing at Bergen Community College in Paramus for Thursday.

Though testing won't be available Thursday, you can still get tested this week.

READ MORE: Nor'easter Cancels Bergen Community College COVID-19 Testing

The New Jersey Transit rail service has been temporarily suspended, including the Main-Bergen County line, starting Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

Central and northern New Jersey bus services has also been temporarily suspended.

Here were expected snow totals:

Officials said there are over 400 pieces of road equipment available for snow clearing efforts to make roads safer, though Gov. Phil Murphy noted during a Wednesday news conference that fewer people are expected on the road due to the coronavirus.

"Because so many people are currently still working from home, and so many students are still on remote learning, we do not anticipate the same after school or rush hour issues that we would otherwise see," Murphy said. "But if you are on the road after the storm conditions have begun, we urge you to please take it slow, and use common sense and caution."

Murphy said the state is also watching the delivery of the new coronavirus vaccine, saying 35 hospitals are supposed to get delivery within the next 24-48 hours.

Here is the forecast:

• Thursday: A 50 percent chance of snow before noon. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a steady temperature around 28. Wind chill values between 10 and 20. Blustery, with a north wind 16 to 21 mph decreasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.
• Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. Wind chill values between 10 and 15. North wind 5 to 7 mph.

PARAMUS

Paramus Police took to Twitter to remind residents that street parking is banned during "periods of snow."

Garbage and recycling collection have been cancelled Thursday, according to a notice from the Department of Public Works.

Additionally, businesses ranging from Barnes & Noble to IKEA announced they would close early in anticipation of the storm.

TEANECK

The township declared a snow emergency shortly after 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

"SNOW EMERGENCY DECLARED FOR TEANECK. PLEASE REMOVE ALL VEHICLES FROM STREET. PLEASE DO NOT SHOVEL SNOW INTO THE STREET," Teaneck officails announced, in a news release.

Thursday recycling collection has been postponed in Teaneck, the township announced ahead of the storm.

The recycling depot will be staffed and open to residents Friday, according to a news release.

Parking ordinances will also be in effect.

"Parking of any vehicle on any portion of a public street is prohibited whenever snow is falling and the accumulation is such that it covers the public streets in the Township and plowing is required, except where designated," officials said, in a news release.

For more information on municipal snow policies, click here.

FAIR LAWN AND SADDLE BROOK

An overnight parking ban was issued in Fair Lawn ahead of Wednesday's storm.

According to a tweet from the police department, vehicles left in the road will be ticketed. Worse for drivers, if your car is left on a road designated a snow emergency route, it's subject to be towed.

See below for a list of streets on the snow emergency route:

Likewise in Saddle Brook, roadways should be clear of cars to allow plows to clear the streets, the police department said.

Vehicles parked on the road are subject to tickets and fines, the department said, in a Nixle alert.

In Fair Lawn, the public school district announced the district would be closed Thursday. Free meal pickup will not be available on Thursday either, the district announced Tuesday, on their website.

"Up to 5 days' meals may be picked up on Tuesday or Wednesday at Memorial Middle School," they added, allowing students the chance to stock up before the winter weather hit the area.

Saddle Brook announced a traditional snow day Thursday, with the entirety of the district closed and no virtual learning scheduled.

WESTWOOD AND HILLSDALE

The Westwood Police Department offered this guidance on Facebook, which touched on overnight park, the borough's plan for snow plows and more:

In Hillsdale, the "Santa Detail" has been canceled for Wednesday, but the police and fire department's shared photos of donations to this point.

Of interest to Hillsdale students, some area high schools have shifted to remote learning for Thursday and Friday.

"Due to the impending snowstorm and anticipated, significant accumulations, Pascack Valley High School, Pascack Hills High School, and Park Academy will shift to remote learning for Thursday, December 17 and Friday, December 18," the district wrote.

At Westwood Regional Schools, the district is implementing a "virtual snow day," which includes a half-day of remote learning in the morning, with no classes or homework for the afternoon.

"Thursday will balance learning with a traditional snow day with a half day of virtual instruction in the morning followed by no classes or homework in the afternoon so our students/staff can take care of the snow removal and snowman building responsibilities as required at home. On Friday, we will resume our typical virtual instructional experience," the district wrote.