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Storm Updates: Intense Snowfall Lashes NYC, As De Blasio Cancels In-Person School For Tuesday
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John Del Signore
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Jake Offenhartz
Published Feb 1, 2021
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Scott Lynch / Gothamist
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By
John Del Signore
and
Jake Offenhartz
Published Feb 1, 2021
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11:30 a.m. Governor Andrew Cuomo has declared a State of Emergency in New York City and nine other counties, advising all city residents to stay home if they can, as the storm's severity continues to worsen.
"This storm is no joke and the main concern right now is that the expected snowfall rate of two inches per hour this afternoon creates an extremely dangerous situation on our roadways," Cuomo said. "[I]f you must travel, get where you're going before noon, and expect to remain home for some time."
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that all school buildings will remain closed on Tuesday, with instruction continuing remotely. Vaccine appointments will also be postponed on Tuesday, as will Learning Bridges and food distribution programs. Trash and recycling pickup is expected to be delayed for the coming days as well.
Heavy bands of snow began moving on shore shortly after 10 a.m., according to the National Weather Service, bringing reports of white-out conditions across the city.
At a briefing on Monday, NYC Sanitation Commissioner Edward Grayson said that all of the city's roads had been plowed at least once — but would remain treacherous for the remainder of the day.
"We are just at the start of this event," Sanitation Commissioner Edward Grayson said. "We fought about a 6 inch snow storm before daybreak, and now we have even more coming."
Above ground subway service could also be cancelled as early as noon, according to Governor Cuomo. Portions of the Long Island Railroad and Metro-North may also see closures, as could major roadways.
On Monday morning, Governor Andrew Cuomo called into WCBS to announce he was driving himself into New York City to monitor the conditions. “I’m on the road now," he said. "It is horrendous."
Snowy waterfront by the Hudson River
Jen Chung / Gothamist
9:00 a.m. As your cellular device has likely already informed you via unnerving push notification, Mayor Bill de Blasio has declared a winter weather emergency in NYC this morning, as heavy snow continues to fall throughout the region.
All non-essential travel is prohibited due to hazardous road conditions, with exceptions for emergency vehicles and essential workers (see the full list of essential workers below).
Half a foot of snow has accumulated in parts of NYC overnight, and the National Weather Service expects heavy snow to continue through this evening. The official forecast from the NWS predicts a total snowfall of 20 inches, which would make this the 8th biggest snowstorm in city history.
De Blasio's announcement says the "latest forecasts anticipate approximately 16-22 inches of snow and near-blizzard conditions across New York City." After 10 a.m., the city could see 2-4 inches of snowfall per hour.
Winds in NYC will hit 20-30 mph with gusts 40- 45 mph throughout the day, according to the NWS.
Here's the list of workers who are exempt from today's emergency travel restrictions.
* Public transit workers
* First responders
* Healthcare and homecare workers
* Police officers
* Peace officers
* Any other workers engaged in vital City services
* Delivery of food, medical supplies, or fuel
* News media
* Hotel workers
* Homeless shelter and outreach workers
* Utility workers performing emergency repairs
* Persons employed by pharmacies, grocery stores (including all food and beverage stores), convenience stores, bodegas, gas stations, laundromats, hotels, restaurants/bars, and hardware stores
* Individuals seeking medical treatment or medical supplies
* For-hire vehicles, used to transport persons employed to perform any of these services to and from their places of employment
And a note about food delivery workers: Tip them very well, and try to do so in cash!
The NWS winter storm warning remains in effect through Tuesday morning, with a coastal flood advisory for parts of Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens in effect through 5 a.m. Tuesday. The NWS warns of "two to three feet of inundation above ground level expected in vulnerable areas near the waterfront and shoreline."
Check back for updates on the storm here throughout the day.
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Blizzard
blizzard 2021
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John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Jake Offenhartz
Jake Offenhartz is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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