The “one-two punch” of heavy rain and powerful wind gusts has left its mark on Ridgewood this Saturday morning. Following the severe storm that battered the region on Friday, December 19, 2025, Village crews are working overtime to clear debris and reopen local thoroughfares.
photo courtesy of the Village Manager Keith Kazmark
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Village Manager Keith Kazmark confirmed that the storm’s intensity felled numerous trees and triggered significant flooding, particularly in low-lying areas along the Saddle River.
>Current Road Closures & Cleanup Sites
Cleanup efforts are concentrated in several high-traffic areas. As of Saturday morning, residents are advised to expect delays or detours at the following locations:
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Grove Street: Crews are actively addressing multiple downed trees between Woodbine and Irving.
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East Saddle River Road: Flooding and debris have impacted travel; specifically, the stretch between East Glen Avenue and Bingham Road saw major flooding on Friday.
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Linwood Avenue: Reports of downed limbs have caused intermittent closures near the schools.
“Please avoid these areas as crews complete their work,” Kazmark urged in a social media update. “Safety is our priority as we clear the way for normal travel.”
Wind and Flood Watch: By the Numbers
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a series of warnings for Bergen County as the storm peaked. The data reveals just how intense the Friday event was:
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Peak Wind Gusts: Teterboro Airport recorded gusts up to 56 MPH, while nearby Caldwell hit 49 MPH. In Ridgewood, gusts hovered around 41 MPH, enough to topple saturated trees.
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Saddle River Levels: The river surged toward a moderate flood stage, nearing the 6-foot mark. Residents in the “Valley” section of town were warned to monitor basement pumps and move vehicles to higher ground.
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Coastal Impacts: A Gale Warning remains in effect for nearby coastal waters, contributing to the persistent wind through Friday night.
Safety Tips for Post-Storm Cleanup
As Ridgewood residents head out to assess the damage, the Village OEM offers these critical reminders:
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Downed Wires: Never approach a downed wire. Assume it is live and dangerous. Report any sparking wires to PSE&G immediately.
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Flooded Streets: “Turn around, don’t drown.” Even a few inches of moving water can stall a vehicle or hide deep potholes and debris.
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Generator Safety: If you lost power, ensure generators are placed at least 20 feet away from windows to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Ridgewood Storm Recovery Snapshot
| Location | Issue | Status |
| Grove Street | Downed Trees | Active Cleanup |
| East Saddle River Rd | Flooding/Debris | Passable with Caution |
| Saddle River Park | High Water | Fields/Paths Closed |
| Local Power | Scattered Outages | Restoration Ongoing |
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Or maybe if the leaf crews were working on every Saturday and Sunday, we wouldn’t have this flooding because they would be on top of the pick up.
The leaves indeed are ALWAYS late being picked up. Agree 100%. But the Saddle River overflowing has nothing to do with leaves.
It’s hard to believe that some people would put thumbs down on this, it’s common sense we would love to know who would be against working on a few Sundays to be on top of this. What happens if we had a blizzard with a few feet. Your big cleaning up leaves and margin in April. Instead of at least trying to be on top of it. Not behind once again.