Winter Storm Forces Widespread Bergen County School Closings
More than a dozen Bergen County school districts have announced closures or delayed openings for Thursday as a winter weather system bringing snow, sleet, and freezing rain moves across northern New Jersey. The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for the region beginning at 4 a.m. Thursday and continuing until 1 p.m., with meteorologists warning that hazardous road conditions could severely impact the morning commute.
According to Patch Mahwah, several districts made their announcements Wednesday evening as forecasts solidified, with administrators opting for caution amid predictions of slippery roads during peak travel hours. The storm marks the beginning of what meteorologists describe as an active weather pattern that could bring multiple snow events to the region over the next week.
Freezing Rain Primary Concern
“Freezing rain is looking to be the bigger concern,” meteorologists noted, as reported by Daily Voice. The precipitation is expected to begin as snow late Wednesday night, transitioning to a wintry mix and eventually all rain by Thursday afternoon as temperatures rise. This transitional period creates particularly hazardous conditions when rain falls onto frozen surfaces, creating a nearly invisible layer of ice on roads and walkways.
The timing of the storm has prompted particular concern among school officials, as the most dangerous conditions are expected to coincide with student transportation hours. Districts announcing full closures include Allendale, Bergenfield, Dumont, Englewood, Fair Lawn, Fort Lee, Garfield, Hackensack, Leonia, Lyndhurst, Maywood, New Milford, North Arlington, Northvale, Palisades Park, Paramus, Ridgefield, Ridgewood, Rutherford, Teaneck, and Wood-Ridge.
Districts opting for delayed openings rather than full closures include Closter, Cresskill, Demarest, Edgewater, Emerson, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Harrington Park, Hasbrouck Heights, Haworth, Hillsdale, Ho-Ho-Kus, Lodi, Mahwah, Midland Park, Montvale, Norwood, Oakland, Old Tappan, Oradell, Park Ridge, Ramsey, River Dell Regional, River Edge, Rochelle Park, Saddle Brook, Tenafly, Upper Saddle River, Waldwick, Westwood, and Wyckoff.
OMG!!! Where I grew up in Bergen County NJ, unless there was at least a foot of snow on the ground we were going to school. So that picture brings back memories. And the worst thing was I had a paper route! I delivered the Paterson Evening News 6 days a week!@crismiller12 https://t.co/QUHix5uDSL
— Colin McDaniel (@ColinMcDaniel01) July 31, 2023
Series of Winter Systems
This storm represents just the first in what forecasters predict will be a series of winter weather systems affecting the region. Weather models show another storm potentially impacting the area Saturday night into Sunday, followed by what could be a more significant system arriving Tuesday into Wednesday of next week.
“We’re looking at what could be the most active winter weather pattern of the season thus far,” explained Dr. James Rivera, meteorology professor at Ramapo College. “The jet stream has shifted into a configuration that favors multiple storm systems tracking through our region in relatively quick succession.”
The New Jersey Department of Transportation announced it had begun pre-treating major roadways Wednesday afternoon and would deploy more than 400 salt spreaders and plows across the northern counties overnight. Officials urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel during the morning hours if possible.
Impact Beyond Schools
Beyond school closures, the storm is expected to impact morning commutes, with NJ Transit announcing that it will cross-honor tickets system-wide on Thursday. Several municipalities have also issued parking restrictions to facilitate snow removal operations, and many senior centers and community programs have announced morning cancellations.
Bergen County Executive James Sullivan urged residents to use caution. “Even if precipitation amounts are modest, the timing and mixed nature of this storm creates particularly dangerous conditions,” he said in a statement. “We encourage everyone to delay travel if possible and allow road crews adequate time to treat surfaces.”
Parents are advised to monitor their school district websites and communication channels for updates, as some districts indicated they may revise their plans based on overnight developments in the forecast. The National Weather Service is expected to issue updated advisories overnight as the storm’s track and timing become more certain.
The frequency of winter weather events this season has already prompted several districts to adjust their academic calendars, with some having already used their allocated snow days. Additional closures may necessitate extending the school year or converting planned breaks into instructional days to meet state requirements for academic hours.
