Blizzard Warning
Blizzard Warning
The National Weather Service has issued a citywide Blizzard Warning, which will be in effect from Mon., Jan. 26, at 1 p.m., until Wed., Jan. 28, at 12 a.m.
The current forecast calls for 18 to 24 inches of snow, with higher amounts possible in local areas and snowfall rates of up to 2 to 4 inches per hour late Monday night into Tuesday morning.
Winds of 20 to 30 mph are expected as well, with gusts reaching up to 55 mph. Temperatures in the lower 20s are expected, with visibilities of one quarter mile or less at times.
In preparation for the blizzard, the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) has readied equipment, including loading its salt spreaders, attaching plows when necessary, preparing tire chains and notifying supplementary personnel as needed.
The DSNY is coordinating with the Office of Emergency Management and the Department of Transportation on snow clearing protocol in accordance with each agency’s written snow plan.
Roughly 2400 sanitation workers will work 12 hour shifts through the duration of the blizzard.
Governor Andrew Cuomo asked residents to work from home if possible.
“New York State is taking all necessary precautions to prepare for this storm,” said Cuomo, “and I urge residents to put safety first and plan ahead to protect themselves and others throughout the duration of this snowstorm.”
All NYC schools will be closed on Tuesday.
New Yorkers are encouraged to sign up for Notify NYC, the City’s free emergency notification system. Through Notify NYC, New Yorkers can receive phone calls, text messages, and/or emails alerts about severe weather events and other emergencies. To sign up for Notify NYC, visit Notify NYC online, call 311, or follow @NotifyNYC on Twitter.
