Nor'easter Could Bring More Outages, Delay Sandy Recovery

A winter storm expected to hit the area with high winds and snow through Thursday would delay Teaneck's recovery from Sandy and may cause more power outages in the storm-battered region, officials said Wednesday. 

Teaneck Township Manager William Broughton said public works crews moved quickly to clear scores of downed trees after Sandy hit last week, but the snow presented a minor setback. 

"It will definitely delay recovery efforts," Broughton said. 

Thanks to the DPW's efforts, no major roadways remained blocked by downed trees in Teaneck, he said. The remaining work involved repairing sidewalks, clearing tree stumps and collecting smaller debris. 

The township was ready to handle the snow and DPW staff had been kept on duty to prepare for the weather, Broughton said. Snow remained mostly light Wednesday afternoon. 

Residents should move cars off the street early to make way for town crews, he added. The town's snow parking regulations go in effect when streets become covered. 

Forecasters said 1 to 3 inches of snow could fall on the area late Wednesday. 

New power outages were being reported nearby. In Hackensack, the Shops at Riverside Mall lost power for about three hours and sporadic outages were reported in Fort Lee and Leonia. 

A Public Service Electric and Gas spokeswoman said the weather and ongoing Sandy restoration efforts could cause service interruptions. 

In a statement, PSE&G said safety regulations prevented repair crews from working when winds go above 40 mph. Gusts could reach 55 mph Wednesday night, according to the National Weather Service. The utility company reported 890 customers in Teaneck were out Wednesday morning eight days after Sandy hit, down sharply from about 3,000 the day before. 

The wintery weather was already leading to cancellations in the area Wednesday. 

Teaneck's Board of Education called off its workshop meeting and the county's Freeholder Board cancelled its public meeting in Hackensack. 

Follow Patch on Twitter, Facebook and click to sign up for Breaking News Alerts. News tip or photos? E-mail teaneck@patch.com