North Jersey: Snow Causes Power Outages, Traffic Delays, Closings

Saturday's unusual snowstorm created dangerous conditions for New Jersey residents and left 200,000 without power as trees crumble beneath the weight of snow, making many roads impassable and dangerous.

"I would urge everybody to get home and stay home and allow emergency workers to take care of problems that have arisen,"  Paramus Mayor Richard LaBarbiera said Saturday afternoon.

His statements echoed those from many municipalities in Bergen County.

Residents in Glen Rock were warned to "stay indoors and refrain from driving" by a reverse 911 call sent just after 4 p.m.

The New Jersey State Police have confirmed closures or partial closures on the following Bergen County roads: 

• I-287 Southbound, Exit 66 - NJ 17, (MM66.9) , Mahwah Twp, left and center lanes closed - Accident
• I-80 local lanes Eastbound, Exit 68 - New Jersey Turnpike/I-95, (MM68.2) , Teaneck Twp, right lane 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

Valley Hospital in Ridgewood and Bergen Regional Hospital in Paramus have also lost electricity and are operating on emergency backup generators according State Police. 

Traffic was moving slowly going in both directions on Route 17 and for much of Route 208 south of Fair Lawn.

About 200,000 customers statewide are without power due to the wet, heavy snow and falling tree limbs made heavier by remaining leaves, according to PSE&G.

"Customers should be prepared for potentially lengthy outages," PSE&G said Saturday. "Crews will begin to restore service once the weather conditions improve and it is safe to work on overhead electric lines. The snow and fallen trees have made traveling treacherous."

The National Weather Service on Friday predicted an “historic early season snowstorm” for Northeast New Jersey, as well as the Lower Hudson Valley and Southern Connecticut. The winter weather advisory had been issued for the area through 2 a.m. Sunday, the weather service said.

The NWS also warned that dangerous travel conditions should be expected, including downed trees in the road. The organization warned that power outages could be expected to continue through 5 p.m.

Stay with Patch for the latest updates on the storm.