The National Weather Service as issued a Winter Storm Watch for New York City starting Friday at 4 p.m. and extending to Saturday at 1 p.m.
Be prepared for heavy snow accumulations, possibly between four and eight inches, the agency says. Residents on the move should plan on slippery road conditions, and hazardous conditions may impact the Friday evening commute.
Downstate New York and New York City will likely be the hardest hit sections in the Metro area, according to a weather map issued by NOAA on Wednesday.
In anticipation of the storm, New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) has issued a travel advisory for Friday evening, December 26 into Saturday, December 27. A winter weather system is expected to bring accumulating snow this weekend, potentially creating hazardous travel conditions during a busy holiday travel period.
“As New Yorkers continue to celebrate the holidays and prepare to celebrate the new year, they should also prepare for hazardous travel conditions Friday into Saturday,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “New York City agencies have been coordinating and are prepared for the winter weather system, and we continue to monitor conditions closely. New Yorkers should all prepare — avoid driving if possible and give yourself extra travel time with public transit if you do need to travel, stay alert to changing conditions, and sign up for Notify NYC for real-time information updates. Thank you to the tireless public servants who are keeping us safe.”
“Many New Yorkers will be traveling or spending time with friends and family this holiday weekend,” said NYCEM Commissioner Zach Iscol. “I want to thank the sanitation crews, emergency managers, and city workers who will be out in the cold, through Christmas and this holiday weekend, preparing for and responding to these conditions. Snow Friday night into Saturday may make travel hazardous, so we’re asking New Yorkers to plan ahead, limit travel when possible, and give our crews room to operate.”
“This forecast calls for snow during what is already a heavy travel weekend. DSNY began our operations well in advance of this storm, and we are ready for whatever comes our way – but please stay off the roads, and know that collection delays are possible as we work to get roads safe and clear,” said Javier Lojan, Acting Commissioner, NYC Sanitation.
Snow is expected to develop Friday afternoon and intensify into steady, accumulating snow Friday night, with several inches of snowfall expected citywide. Snow is likely to taper off Saturday morning, though lingering flurries may persist. Cold temperatures through Friday night and Saturday will limit snowmelt, increasing the risk of slippery and hazardous road conditions.
In response to the forecasted conditions, NYCEM has activated the City’s Winter Weather Emergency Plan, coordinating closely with NWS, city and state agencies, and utility partners.
As part of the Winter Weather Emergency Plan, the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) will issue a Snow Alert and is pre-deploying hundreds of salt spreaders to pretreat roadways ahead of snowfall, with plows ready to deploy citywide as conditions warrant. During a Snow Alert, DSNY coordinates closely with NYCEM and the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) to carry out snow-clearing operations.
While DSNY clears streets and bike lanes, property owners are responsible for clearing sidewalks. Snow may not be pushed into the street or bike lanes, as this is illegal and interferes with snow operations. Snow should be placed against the building, at the curb line, or on private property. Sidewalks must be kept passable for all pedestrians, with a clear path where possible. While property owners are not required to clear bus stops, they are encouraged to clear a path from the sidewalk to the curb. Failure to clear sidewalks may result in fines.
