The tri-state region is bracing for a blizzard that is expected
to hit Monday afternoon and could measure up as one of the worst
snowstorm in New York City history.
With a possibility of 30 inches of snow and wind gusts of 65
miles an hour, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio came out Sunday
with members of his emergency response team to urge residents to
use extreme caution over the next two days.
"My message to all New Yorkers is, prepare for something worse
than we have seen before," said Mr. de Blasio. "Don't underestimate
this storm."
Forecasters have issued a blizzard warning for New York City,
northern New Jersey, Long Island and most of southern
Connecticut.
The storm moved through the mid-Atlantic Sunday, was expected to
get progressively worse as it comes east and would "max out" as it
hits the New York area, said John Cristantello, a meteorologist
with the National Weather Service.
Lighter snow is expected to begin midmorning Monday and turn
heavy around the evening commute into Tuesday morning, with
sustained winds from 30 to 40 miles an hour, according to the
weather service. Accumulation will be at least 20 inches across the
region and temperatures will be in the 20s.
Whiteout conditions are possible and many roads will be
unpassable, according the weather service.
Schools will be open Monday, but there will be no after-school
activities. Mr. de Blasio said it is likely that school will be
closed Tuesday; an announcement on school closures is expected
Monday.
City officials also urged workers to either telecommute or to
adjust their hours by arriving early on Monday and leaving before
rush hour. Drivers should stay off the roads Monday night and all
day Tuesday, said Mr. de Blasio.
Residents also should stay out of city parks until after the
park paths are assessed--at least until Wednesday morning, he said.
With the high winds, power outages are expected, according to city
officials.
Alternate side parking has been suspended for Monday and Tuesday
as have all garbage and recycling services.
The city's Department of Sanitation and Department of
Transportation workers have spent days preparing for the storm.
Some 1,000 potholes have been filled in anticipation of the
blizzard and workers have been pulling long shifts to outfit trucks
with snowplow equipment.
Ahead of the snowfall, city officials said, 500 salt spreaders
will be deployed. When 2 inches have accumulated, 1,500 snowplows
will be clearing the city's 6,000 miles of road.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo also urged New Yorkers to plan for closed
roads and delayed or canceled public transportation and flights,
and even suggested that they stay home from work if possible. State
agencies have directed equipment and other resources to the areas
expected to be hit hardest. The Metropolitan Transportation
Authority will begin storing trains underground on Monday night,
according to a statement from Mr. Cuomo.
The approaching blizzard could measure up or surpass a 1947
storm that dumped 26.4 inches of snow or a February 2006 storm that
dumped 26.9 inches of snow.
"When this storm gets into the magnitude that they are
projecting, there are going to be a lot of breaks in city service,"
said Joseph Esposito, commissioner of the city's Office of
Emergency Management.
Write to Melanie Grayce West at melanie.west@wsj.com
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires