What to Know
- After an icy and messy snow storm Tuesday, the majority of the snow has transitioned over to rain
- Though projected snow totals for the city dipped ahead of the storm, the ice threat soared, meaning greater risk for power outages
- Warmer weather is on the horizon after Tuesday's storm, with highs expected to reach the mid-40s Wednesday and Thursday then hit the 50s
The wintry mix that throttled the tri-state with its all-day wrath on Tuesday caused significant icing and hazardous travel conditions, and any roads left untreated could become even more treacherous overnight, Storm Team 4 says.
Many woke up to snow Tuesday morning, dealing with a slippery morning commute before the white stuff changed over to a wintry mix during the day. By evening, much of the tri-state got 2 to 4 inches of snow and sleet, according to Storm Team 4.
The precipitation -- wintry mix for the northern areas and rain for the southern sections -- began pushing out of the region by late Tuesday, but winds will begin to increase out of the west leading into Wednesday morning.
Storm Team 4 Breaks Down Snow Storm, Wintry Mix Conditions
Local
The dangerous weather conditions were blamed for hundreds of accidents across the tri-state. New Jersey State Police said they responded to 100 accidents Tuesday morning alone, and another 200 calls for drivers needing assistance on the roads.
In Suffolk, more than 120 accidents were reported during the day, forcing partial closures of the Sunrise Highway at various locations. Police departments in Westchester reported dozens of accidents on parkways, mainly property damage resulting from low-speed collisions or single-car crashes into a guardrail or off road.
Ice probability is a concern outside the immediate metro area. Storm Team 4 says places like Monticello and Poughkeepsie saw up to a half-inch of ice. It only takes a tenth to two tenths of an inch of ice accumulation to down power lines and snap tree limbs, Storm Team 4 cautioned. The storm brought double that amount in parts of the region.
Power outages remain a significant threat for areas north and west of the city primarily, though the city could see up to a tenth of an inch of ice. As for snow, Storm Team 4 said NYC saw 1 to 2 inches, with the most in Jackson Heights, Queens. More accumulation fell further north and west. Places like Phoenicia in Ulster County saw 4.5 inches. Connecticut's Fairfield County saw about two inches and Ocean County in New Jersey saw about 3 of snow, Storm Team 4 said.
On Long Island, anywhere from 3.5 to 1.5 inches of snow accumulated.
New York City public schools were open Tuesday, though a vast number of other schools across the tri-state area announced closures. Check the latest school closings and delays here.
A travel advisory was in effect for New York City with snow and ice causing major problems for area airports. Get real-time transit updates here.
In New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency Monday ahead of the storm. Travel restrictions for commercial vehicles on interstate highways were lifted by Tuesday night. Check 511nj.org for the latest updates.
Winter storm warnings were in effect for the Hudson Valley and parts of New Jersey and New York. See the latest weather alerts here.
The snow that did not melt away with the rain, will do so with the warmer weather that is on the horizon after Tuesday's storm, with highs expected to reach the mid-40s Wednesday and Thursday and then soar into the 50s Friday and Saturday, Storm Team 4 says.
