Weather
1,500 Still Without Power In Bergen County While Towns Dig Out After 'Downburst'
A downburst can cause damage similar to an EF 0 tornado, the NWS says. The Paramus area may have been hit by one.
BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — After three days of strong storms, at least 1,500 people remained without power in Bergen County on Tuesday morning, PSE&G said.
Power should be fully restored to all locations by Wednesday night at 10:30 p.m., the utility said.
Paramus Mayor Chris DiPiazza had declared a state of emergency on Sunday due to storm damage, including the uprooting of centuries-old trees.
Find out what's happening in Ridgewood-Glen Rockfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
He said in a message on Monday night, "I have been in contact with PSEG. Nine crews for power and nine tree crews will be designated for Paramus overnight. Tomorrow there will be even a larger contingency with plans to bring back power for a lot of residents ... Let’s hang tough these next few days together."
James Tomasini of the National Weather Service told Patch that despite speculation about a "microburst" in various North Jersey towns, the fallen trees were the result of strong straight-line winds. He said there was likely a downburst just south of Paramus.
Find out what's happening in Ridgewood-Glen Rockfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
A downburst is a powerful downward column of wind that emerges from a thunderstorm, the NWS says. It can cause damage similar to an EF zero or EF1 tornado.
Due to storm damage, NJ Transit trains were delayed on Monday and some buses were diverted. But NJ Transit's Bergen County lines were running on time on Tuesday, the agency said.
One lane of Route 208 in Fair Lawn was closed early Tuesday morning, the state DOT said.
Another round of thunderstorms is in the local forecast for Thursday afternoon, after 2 p.m. Check links below for updates.
Links To Track Storms
- Keep an eye on the radar here.
- Check out the Accuweather Minutecast here.
- See a current map of all watches and warnings in New Jersey here.
- The NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) keeps us informed about larger weather events. Follow them here.
Rain reports from the recent storm are here.
Updated NWS forecasts, watches, and warnings in each county:
What about the rivers? This NWS map of the United States will show the potential for river flooding.
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