NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A winter storm is expected to dump up to 3 inches of heavy, wet snow on New York City Tuesday, with 6-10 inches possible north of the city, according to AccuWeather.
A Winter Storm Watch was issued for all five boroughs and most of Long Island from 4 a.m. Tuesday until Tuesday evening. A Winter Storm Warning was issued for North Jersey, the Hudson Valley and Connecticut during that time.
The National Weather Service said the "major" winter storm will bring periods of "moderate to heavy snow" from the Hudson Valley down to the coasts, with gusty winds and coastal flooding possible.
National Weather Service
National Weather Service
Mayor Eric Adams said the city's public schools will be entirely remote Tuesday due to the weather. NYC Emergency Management issued a Travel Advisory from 4 a.m. to 6 p.m. Alternate Side Parking has also been suspended Tuesday, though meters will remain in effect.
"All the agencies involved are on alert," Adams said during a briefing with the commissioners of the Sanitation Department and Emergency Management.
Polls will be open for the special election in New York's 3rd congressional district, where Democrat Tom Suozzi and Republican Mazi Melesa Pilip are in a race to replace George Santos.
The storm has been pushing east across the country, dropping snow as it treks towards the East Coast.
"Mother Nature is sending her love our way for Valentine's Day in the form of a massive snowstorm," Gov. Kathy Hochul said at a state briefing. "People have been accustomed to a fairly mild winter, so take all the necessary precautions."
The MTA held a press conference on Monday afternoon about preparations ahead of the storm. "No matter what happens, MTA is going to be ready," MTA CEO Janno Lieber said. "We have a detailed plan in place to deal with weather and deliver safe service to New Yorkers ... New York is a 24/7 city, and MTA runs 24/7 and riders on all kinds of schedules need to be able to rely on mass transit. If you are traveling, MTA will be operating."
The MTA is expected to run buses, LIRR as usual, with a robust schedule for Metro-North. "Personnel and equipment are ready in place for whatever is coming," Lieber said. There are now 35 snow-fighting vehicles ready for the buses and 9,000 tons of deicing material are ready for use.
There's still some uncertainty about the track of the storm and when the changeover to snow will occur, but the Tuesday morning commute is expected to be a wintry mess regardless. If the storm does track south by as little as 50 miles, it could mean more snow for New York City. An earlier shift to snow would also mean more snow for the city.
AccuWeather
AccuWeather
In the New York area, rain is expected to break out south to north Monday night. A changeover to snow will begin overnight, and most of the area will likely see heavy snow—possibly 1-2 inches per hour—by daybreak Tuesday. The wet snow will continue throughout the morning before tapering off later in the day. The high will be 37.
At least 1 to 3 inches of snow are expected in the city and on Long Island. Up to 6 inches are possible immediately north of the city, including in the Bronx, while areas beyond the I-287 corridor could see upwards of 10 inches, according to AccuWeather.
AccuWeather
AccuWeather
The blast of winter weather will break days of mild, springlike conditions in the metro area. Colder temps are expected for the second half of February.
Wednesday will be mostly sunny but chilly. The high will be 36.
Thursday and Friday will be brisk and partly sunny with highs near 40.
AccuWeather
All branches of Brooklyn Public Library, The New York Public Library covering the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, and Queens Public Library will be closed on Tuesday, Feb. 13.
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso's 2024 State of the Borough address, originally planned for Feb. 13, is postponed, a spokesperson stated. A new date has not yet been set.
