BERGEN COUNTY, N.J. — The first days of Sukkos started with a break from the weather.

Friday night, despite the ominous forecast for the weekend, Bergen County families were able to sit down for their Sukkos meals without the rain that would soon complicate the rest of the holiday.

By Shabbos and into Sunday, however, the nor'easter had arrived, bringing periods of rain and strong winds and turning the simple question of where to eat into a matter of watching the skies.

For many families, catching the sukkah “between the drops” became almost a game.

The storm brought rain and wind across North Jersey throughout the weekend, with some areas receiving more than an inch of rain. Wind gusts reached as high as 40 mph Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

For those observing Sukkos, the weather created an additional halachic challenge. Rain falling into a sukkah can affect whether a person is required to remain there for a meal, with the first night carrying additional considerations.

Several Bergen County rabbis circulated practical guidance ahead of the storm addressing what to do when rain interferes with Sukkos meals. The guidance differed somewhat in its details, including how long to wait for rain to stop and what to do if conditions improved later in the evening, but generally emphasized the special requirements of the first night and greater flexibility when rain makes eating in the sukkah impractical during the remainder of Yom Tov.

The weather also brought a practical concern beyond the mitzvah itself.

Strong winds can damage sukkahs or send schach and other materials flying, prompting reminders to make sure sukkah structures and schach are properly secured. Rabbinic guidance also addressed ways to secure schach and what can be done if a sukkah is damaged by the weather.

The nor'easter affected more than sukkah plans.

Across North Jersey, events were canceled or postponed, travel was disrupted and communities took precautions because of the combination of rain, wind and flooding concerns.

For Bergen County's Jewish community, however, the weekend's most immediate calculation was often a simple one: Is it raining now, and will it stop long enough to eat in the sukkah?

After a dry Friday night, the rest of the first days of Sukkos became a matter of watching the skies and trying to catch the sukkah between the drops.