Snow, high winds hitting areas devastated by Sandy
November 8th, 2012
07:18 PM ET

Snow, high winds hitting areas devastated by Sandy

Editor's note: A nor'easter has been hitting parts of the U.S. Northeast with heavy snow and strong winds since yesterday, cruelly complicating recovery efforts from last week's Superstorm Sandy and interrupting power for some weary residents who had just gotten it restored.

[Updated at 7:18 p.m. ET] A resident of Tom's River, a New Jersey community hard-hit by Sandy last week, tells CNN that the nor'easter's 5 to 7 inches of snow this week made things more difficult for people in the area.

Keith Paul said he's fortunate that his house still is standing, because homes a block away were toppled. His home hasn't had power since last week, and while a neighbor let him use a generator, this week's nor'easter complicated things.

"I had a generator from somebody who got their power back ... but now their power went back out because (of) the heavy snow," Paul said. "And it's just happening all over."

[Updated at 4:23 p.m. ET] Here's something not directly related to this week's nor'easter, but related to how to region still is coping with Sandy: New York City and both of Long Island's counties have ordered a temporary gasoline-rationing system - starting Friday morning – in which people there can buy fuel only on certain days, depending on their license-plate numbers.

New Jersey started a similar, temporary system last weekend in 12 counties.

[Updated at 1:14 p.m. ET] Superstorm Sandy inflicted an estimated $33 billion in losses on the state of New York and $50 billion across the region, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says.

[Updated at 12:26 p.m. ET] A resident of West Hempstead, New York, says he and his family finally got power restored to their home yesterday around noon, more than a week after Sandy hit. Then came the the nor'easter, and he was back in the dark and cold.

Joshua A. Martinez told CNN's iReport.com that the power went out again around 12:55 a.m. Thursday, just more than 12 hours after it was restored. His home, which he had heated to 68 degrees, quickly chilled - the interior was down to 63 degrees in minutes, he said.

So for now, it's back to layers of clothes and covering up with about five blankets at night, he says.

[Updated at 12:11 p.m. ET] We have some context for some of the snowfall totals we gave you earlier today. We said that Newark, New Jersey, had 6.2 inches of snow as of 9 a.m. CNN meteorologist Brandon Miller now tells us that's more snow than Newark averages for the months of November and December combined (5.8 inches).

Similarly, the 8 inches the Bridgeport, Connecticut, received by 9 a.m. Thursday is well above the city's November/December combined average of 6.2 inches.

The 4.7 inches of snow that fell in Central Park, New York, comes close to its combined November/December average of 5.1 inches.

[Updated at 11:51 a.m. ET] More information about how the nor'easter set back power restoration efforts in New Jersey: The storm knocked out power in some areas even as crews were working in the snow to end days-old power outages in other locations, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said.

He said 390,746 customers in New Jersey were without power on Thursday morning, up 19,000 from Wednesday. About 167,000 of the total were outages related to the nor'easter, Christie said at a news conference late Thursday morning in Somerset, New Jersey.

Christie said most New Jersey customers - with the exception of those in the barrier islands hard-hit by Sandy between Point Pleasant Beach and Seaside Heights - would have their power restored by Saturday. Had it not been for the nor'easter, that day would have been Friday, he said.

[Updated at 10:46 a.m. ET] We're getting more information from CNN's weather team about how this powerful and untimely nor’easter continues to affect portions of the Northeast today.

The center of the storm is just south of Cape Cod and is bringing rain and snow to Long Island, New York; Rhode Island; and eastern Massachusetts.

So what does that mean for those areas? There'll be below-freezing low temperatures in areas hit by Sandy for the next one or two mornings.

CNN iReport: Are you there?

The cold weather will create additional dangers or challenges for those without power. As of 9 a.m ET, 330,309 people are without power in New Jersey and 218,469 people are powerless in New York from the nor’easter.

Most wind advisories have been canceled across the Northeast with the exception of coastal Massachusetts. They are in effect until 3 p.m. ET. In those areas, expect gusts up to 45 mph as the center of the storm passes by Cape Cod.

One of the highest wind gusts reported Wednesday was measured 6 miles offshore in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. Winds gusted up to 76 mph, which just so you know, is stronger than a Category 1 hurricane.

Snowfall totals topped a foot in parts of Connecticut and New Jersey. Other reports of snowfall reaching 3 to 6 inches were received across New England, including areas along the coast.

Multiple daily snowfall records were set with Wednesday’s snow, and here are a few of them as of 9 this morning.

  • Central Park in New York: 4.3 inches
  • Newark, New Jersey:  6.2 inches
  • Bridgeport, Connecticut: 8.0 inches
  • Worcester, Massachusetts: 5.2 inches
  • Kennedy, New York: 4 inches
  • Hartford, Connecticut: 3.4 inches
  • Islip, New York: 4 inches

[Posted at 8:54 a.m. ET] Superstorm Sandy had already destroyed or damaged their homes, but they had finally gotten their power back after about a week. Residents in the Northeast had weathered the cold and the dark but were getting some much-needed warmth at last. And then just like that - the power went out again.

A nor'easter tore through the same area that saw homes flooded, massive power outages and widespread damage last week, covering the region now in snow - as much as 13 inches in some parts of New Jersey or Connecticut.

Early weather forecasts had predicted rain and perhaps a dusting for Wednesday. But in many places, including Staten Island, New York, people found themselves sleeping in cold homes without power and waking up Thursday to 2 feet of snow outside, CNN's Rob Marciano reported.

Winds ranging from 45 to 75 mph in Northeastern states shook the wet and already weakened trees. Branches toppled power lines, and again lights began to flicker in homes where many thought maybe, just maybe, they were finally out of the woods.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg had sounded the alarm all along. Bloomberg warned residents Tuesday that already-damaged areas could see more water and wind, creating new devastation. He urged them to stay inside and get off the roads.

"I can see us moving backward," Christie said of the possible impact the nor'easter could have on progress made following Sandy.

In Asbury Park, New Jersey, crews were already back out in the slushy streets still full of debris from the earlier storm.

In a hotel, utility crews from other states had packed a ballroom and were sleeping in cots after helping restore service following Sandy, CNN's Susan Candiotti reported.

"They had made progress yesterday," Candiotti said. "But (by the) end of day when snow came down, they already knew they were losing more power than they had restored."

The good news for New York and New Jersey is that crews are back up and at it again Thursday morning to restore power. And the sun is beaming down on the snow, which residents said they hoped would quickly disappear.

The bad news is the storm is working its way up the coast, and residents in Massachusetts will see strong winds coming their way. The storm front will linger over the northern part of New Hampshire and Maine, the National Weather Service said, and it is expected to bring a few more inches of snow to that area.

soundoff (335 Responses)
  1. Sharon Michael

    Where the hell is all the relief workers?? And all the money donated to help these poor people?

    November 8, 2012 at 4:00 pm | Report abuse |
  2. gongshow

    obama already did his photo op you people that voted for him are a bunch of suckers so now you can freeze
    and thank him for it.

    November 8, 2012 at 4:04 pm | Report abuse |
    • Mike Johnson

      We see what low lifes conservatives are. They will use the misery of other to attack our president because they are losers.

      November 8, 2012 at 5:53 pm | Report abuse |
    • 4jobs1

      CLEARLY this is still GWB's fault....After all it is HIS FEMA at work here

      November 9, 2012 at 12:12 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Aldo

    When is CNN going to start reporting on climate change rather than reporting on each "historic" storm as a single "outlier" event. C'mon, who really believes these "monster" storms aren't the result of human activity on the planet. George Bush where are you now? Head still in sand? Let's wake up people...did we all hear the wake-up call?

    -A

    November 8, 2012 at 4:28 pm | Report abuse |
    • Hoosier53

      yeah and bush killed off the dinosaurs and bush caused the great chicago fire and bush killed off the passenger pigeon and bush ...

      November 8, 2012 at 4:36 pm | Report abuse |
    • scott

      Hoosier..you forgot Bush killing off the Dodo bird

      November 8, 2012 at 4:51 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Mike

    This is not a nor'easter. None of the meteorologists understand that the name of this type of storm refers to the direction the storm is coming from and not where it is going. This is a southeaster. A nor'easter would be coming in form the northeast Atlantic

    November 8, 2012 at 4:48 pm | Report abuse |
    • technically

      Nor'easters are actually storms that affect the northeast. These storms are developed in the gulf or in the atlantic and wind up slamming the northeast and occasionally the mid atlantic region. In this case the storm is coming from the atlantic and moving up the northeast, hence the name nor'easter. I think the meteorologists are doing their job just fine.

      November 8, 2012 at 5:17 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Sagebrush Shorty

    You keep electing these incompetents. Next time perhaps you'll know better.

    November 8, 2012 at 5:02 pm | Report abuse |
    • Mike Johnson

      Haven't you heard? Mitt lost.

      November 8, 2012 at 5:55 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Sagebrush Shorty

    And Obama said "Let there be light". But there was no light.

    November 8, 2012 at 5:04 pm | Report abuse |
    • James Beckham

      lol...,that's good... I like that..def agree on that!

      November 8, 2012 at 5:57 pm | Report abuse |
  7. jwkall

    Wow As I Watch CNN And All I Hear Is The Election Results, Who Is Helping The Folks In Need. We Are Donating Items here In N.B. Canada ????

    November 8, 2012 at 5:22 pm | Report abuse |
  8. bruce98@comcast.net

    The US Navy has plenty of ships with generators that can power a small city. Not to mention all the needed supplies and other services that the Navy Construction Battalion can handle. These people need help yesterday or they may freeze or starve. Where are armed forces that can help with this tragedy??

    November 8, 2012 at 5:33 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Harvey

    I do not know how true this is ,,, but I read a number of linemen came up there to help out. They were asked if they were union and said no; they were told "We don't need your help"

    God, I hate unions !!!!!

    November 8, 2012 at 7:25 pm | Report abuse |
    • Little Jeffy Roem

      It isn't true at all. It was made up by a bunch of GOPers right before the elections. Every utility worker from every state, even the right-to-work states are being used. It's a big fat lie by little shallow morons.

      November 8, 2012 at 8:26 pm | Report abuse |
  10. Benn

    Things will get better. We are all praying for you and everyone in the northeast. Please try to stay inside where it is warm.

    November 8, 2012 at 9:06 pm | Report abuse |
  11. JoyceinDE

    During the nor'easter storm, I received email from Governor Markell's office urging patience in whether he requests FEMA funds for Delaware in the wake of Sandy. As a response, I emailed back videos of siding being ripped off nail by nail in Athena's winds and sections of roof being torn off for his viewing pleasure while he was waiting. Haven't heard back since.

    November 9, 2012 at 1:24 pm | Report abuse |
  12. Snowgoose

    The CNN storm weather guy doesn't even know where Buzzards Bay is! He pointed to Cape Cod Bay and confidently called it Buzzard's Bay...don't meteorologists have to know basic geography?

    February 8, 2013 at 9:23 pm | Report abuse |
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