Newsman: The Most significant winter storms in years already have covered New York City with more than a 6 inch of snow over the night as some areas expecting over a foot of snow started Wednesday. States of emergency have been declared across the Tri-State area as a major snowstorm rolled into the region. The snowstorm is hitting parts of New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut Wednesday night into Thursday. Massachusetts and Pennsylvania are also in the storm belt as the US east coast is facing this massive winter storm of the year. Some parts of the tri-state area could see nearly 2 feet of snow from a nor’easter. New York City is expected to get over a foot and have wind gusts of up to 50 mph, officials said.
“Snow amounts will be significant north and west of the I-95 corridor, though heavy snowfall has occurred across this corridor this evening. Snowfall rates could reach 3 inches per hour for a time tonight, causing significantly reduced visibility and potentially crippling travel impacts in places,” the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey, said in a Wednesday evening briefing. “Very strong winds expected near the coast and over the marine zones with gusts potentially reaching 45 to 60 mph. This could result in power outages. Inland, gusts could reach as high as 30 to 40 mph, exacerbating visibility restrictions in snow.”
The overnight temperature in NYC has fallen to the ‘blue’ with in some area 22 Degree to 27 degree and the gusts 60 miles per hour.
The New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the snowstorm could be the biggest New York City has seen in years and urged residents to prepare while briefing Tuesday. “This is going to be a serious storm,” the mayor said. NYC canceled in-person classes for Thursday due to the storm, but after changes made by the Covid-19 pandemic, it would be different than in past years. Mayor Bill de Blasio said “I know we all grew up with the excitement of snow days, but this year is different,” de Blasio tweeted. “Tomorrow will be a FULL REMOTE learning day for our students.”
Several transit agencies have announced modified or c some temporarily suspended service due to the storm both in NewYork and New Jersey area.
Alternate Side Parking Regulations are suspended in NYC for Wednesday and Thursday to facilitate snow removal. Parking meter rules will remain in effect. The city’s Emergency Management Department issued a Hazardous Travel Advisory for Wednesday through Thursday because of the expected snowfall and high winds.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency and closed state offices, noting it was the first major snowstorm of the Covid-19 pandemic. It also comes as states are distributing a recently-authorized vaccine. “Our theme today probably ought to be: If it’s not one thing, it’s another,” Murphy said at a briefing Wednesday morning.
The snow is expected to last into Thursday morning in many areas. Boston is forecast to get between 8 inches and a foot of snow, while much of the rest of Massachusetts could get 18 inches, according to the National Weather Service.
