New York City officials are urging people to stay off the roads as a massive snowstorm bears down on the area.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has declared a state of emergency for the city, where a winter storm warning is in effect. The governor said expected snowfall totals have increased with six to 10 inches of snow possible Thursday.
Mayor Bill de Blasio called it a “very serious storm” and also declared a winter weather emergency for the city.
“That will give our agencies the ability to take additional actions to keep us safe,” he said.
The mayor said any vehicles blocking roadways will be towed.
City Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia said the wind is making traveling dangerous.
The Sanitation Department said 2,300 workers were on on 12-hour shifts and 693 salt spreaders were out tackling the winter weather.
New York City public schools were closed Thursday, but de Blasio said schools are expected to be open on Friday.
Alternate side parking rules are also suspended Thursday and Friday.
Meanwhile, Atlantic City NJ looks to be the most buried, with perhaps 20 inches of snow by the time the storm is over.
The forecast continues to see 8 to 12 inches across the remainder of the Shore with lower totals expected farther west from the coast.
Snow totals are climbing, per preliminary counts from the weather service.
More than a foot of snow had already blanketed Brick Township, NJ by noon.
NJ Gov. Chris Christie has declared a state of emergency for Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic and Cape May counties. A blizzard warning remains in effect until 7 p.m. tonight for the entirety of the Jersey Shore.
Wind gusts above 50 mph have been measured in Toms River this morning.
All flights have been suspended at John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport due to “wind and white out conditions,” Port Authority officials said.
The airports remain open, though it is unclear when flights will resume, according to a 11:30 a.m. alert released by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees the area airports.
Newark Liberty International Airport also remains open, though limited flights are expected to arrive at or depart from the airport Thursday.
A total of 920 flights have been cancelled Thursday at Newark Airport, the most in the nation, according to FlightAware, a flight tracking website.
However, it remains unclear if many flights will be back on scheduled on Friday, after the storm passes. Nearly 400 flights slated for Friday are already cancelled nationwide, according to FlightAware.
- A travel advisory has been issued from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today.
- The Port Authority advises travelers to check with their carriers to make sure their flight will be taking off before going to the airport.
- The Governor has activated the State Emergency Operations Center at a Level 4 enhanced monitoring.
- The coastal system is expected to bring 6 – 10 inches of snow to New York City; 4 – 8 inches to Nassau County; 9 -12 inches to Suffolk County; 4 – 8 inches to Westchester County.
- The northern system is expected to bring 8 – 10 inches of snow in the typical lake effect snow areas of upstate.
- Dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills will continue through the weekend and wind chill watches will remain in effect for all of Upstate New York
- All MTA bridges and tunnels are subject to speed restrictions up to 20 mph.
- The MTA is operating under its cold weather plan for forecasts of significant snow accumulation – some subway trains may be moved and stored underground in anticipation of heavy snow or ice.
- On MTA lines with express service, trains may operate local service only.
- There is a 35 mph speed restriction on the George Washington Bridge due to high winds and low visibility.
- There is a 25 mph speed restriction on the Staten Island Bridges (Outerbridge, Goethals and Bayonne).
(Yossi Taub – YWN / AP)
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3 Responses
My official backyard measurement was 14 inches in Boro Park. Please shovel and salt your sidewalks. If you have an elderly neighbor it doesnt hurt to shovel a path for them too. In general We dont have to show off where the property line ends.
Does anyone have a notion to say that the salt helped an iota. Actually I think it makes it worse and I’ll explain myself. If they wouldn’t salt the ground the bottom layer would stay soft but the salt causes a layer of ice because of the salt that melts the ice and freezes quickly before the trucks come. If you notice after the tow trucks come there is a sheet of ice left over. If i’m right then not only are we wasting money on the salt and workers but we’re ruining the roads as well with the salt. Does anyone agree with me?
Pd you are 100% correct. I’ve been arguing about this with my neighbor for years. There is an old saying, my mind is made up don’t confuse me with the facts.