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Photos by Fritz Rethage    Posted February 19, 2003

Blizzard '03
Other Photos: First snow of this winter (December 5, 2002)       White Christmas 2002

On the afternoon of Sunday, February 16, Governor McGreevey declared a "State of Emergency" as a winter storm with wicked-cold temperatures and brutal blizzard-like wind conditions was expected.   The snow began Sunday night and continued steadily until Monday evening. As the day ended on February 17, 2003, Hasbrouck Heights received over 20" inches of snow -- making it the deepest snow fall since January 7-8, 1996.

The HH School system was already closed for a scheduled winter break.  The storm struck on President's Day -- a state and federal holiday in which many people were home.   All area airports were closed, including Teterboro Airport.  There were difficult traffic and road conditions with commuter delays and many "fender-benders", but no serious incidents were reported in Heights.

The DPW was out in force throughout Sunday night, all day Monday.  By Tuesday mid-day, all Heights roads were plowed clear. Tuesday afternoon saw the DPW clearing walks at municipal buildings such as the Library. By Wednesday morning, the DPW was removing snow from intersection corners and The Boulevard sidewalks. The snow removed was taken to the Woodland Park back lot and the DPW yard.

It should be noted that despite the storm, garbage that was placed on the curb was collected, and the recycling/newspaper pick-up was made.

The term "blizzard-like" was used by the media, although the exact meteorological criteria which include sustained winds of 35 mph and visibility near zero was not met.

Here are some scenes on the afternoon of February 18.

BOE clearing walk at Euclid School


Clearing entrance to Corpus Christi Church


Clearing walks and driveway entrances



 


Family making snow sculpture of "Corgies"







DPW clearing sidewalks and grooming street curbs on the morning of February 19.




Sign on snow covered roof


Library walks & steps cleared by DPW



Euclid School Playground


Woodland Park scenes
 




Adding color to snow white


Post card photo of First Reformed Church


School playground


Park bench snowed in


Icicles forming on New Municipal Building


References illustrating amount of snow
     

 

   





Many cars were still covered in snow late afternoon February 18








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Winter Snow Storms ... Movies:   Plowing Circle Christmas Day 2002 DPW plowing The Boulevard December 6, 2003 [1][2] HHFD Ladder Company responding to call Dec. 14, 2003 [900k] #### Winter Said Hello February 12 2006 First Major Snow of the Season  December 9, 2005 Presidential Surprise February 21, 2005 DPW Does A Great Job... Again!   January 22, 2005 Scenes Around Snowy Heights January 23, 2005 March Blast   March 16, 2004 Snow Storm   January 28, 2004 Snow Storm  December 14, 2003 Back-to-back Storm Storms  December 5-6, 2003 Blizzard '03  Feb. 17, 2003     Spring Surprise  April 7. 2003   2002-2003 -- First snow Dec. 5, 2002      White Christmas 2002   2001-2002 -- Around Town   January 20, 2002   2000-2001 -- The (Almost) Storm of Century  March 4-5, 2001        Around Town Photos January 2001        Holiday Snow Storm Dec. 30, 2000  [Photos][Woodland Park]   1999-2000 -- First Snow of the Century Jan. 20, 2000 [Photos][Woodland Park] ###### Early Storms Big pre-December 10th snowstorms since 1949 Measurmeents at Newark Liberty Airport Source: NE Regional Climatic Data Center, Ithaca, NY Dec. 5-6, 2003 15.9 Dec. 3-4, 1957 13.3 Dec. 5, 2002 8.0 Nov. 22-23, 1989 5.7 Dec. 2-3, 1952 4.8 Dec.8-9, 1958 4.5 Dec. 5-6, 1985 3.7