Chris Cimino’s forecast for Friday, February 14.
This winter is just .2 inches shy of landing a spot among the city's top 10 snowiest winters ever after a nor'easter swirled through the tri-state and dumped snow in two waves over a 30-hour period, leaving more than 1 foot in Central Park by the time it moved out Friday morning.
Central Park has seen 53 inches of snow so far this season, nearly double the average snowfall of 27 inches. It's far from the record 75 inches of snow that fell during the 1995-96 winter season, close to becoming one of the top 10 snowiest winters ever for the city.
Friday promised to be wet and mucky on the ground, as the sun came out and temperatures climbed to 40 degrees and sidewalks and streets turned into slush puddles.
The first wave of snow Thursday morning brought 9.5 inches to Central Park, 11.5 inches to Queens, 8 to Staten Island, 10 to Westchester County, and 14 on Long Island and in New Jersey. Check totals in your area here
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The second wave moved in late Thursday night, dropping light to moderate snow on the region before moving out Friday morning. That piled on an additional 2 to 4 inches, leaving much of Manhattan with more than a foot of snow. In Orange County's Harriman, more than 20 inches of snow fell.
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Mayor de Blasio said the heavy snow came even faster Thursday morning than expected, and sanitation crews struggled to keep up during the morning rush hour.
"This storm sped up," he said.
There was at least one snow-related death in New York City; a 36-year-old pregnant woman was killed by a snowplow in a grocery store parking lot in Brooklyn, but her baby was saved by doctors.
The snow also contributed to structural damage in the area. Roof collapses were reported across the tri-state, including at numerous homes, at a tennis center in Rockland County, a restaurant in Yonkers and an elementary school in Wallington, N.J., police say. No injuries were reported.
Temperatures will drop back below freezing overnight into Saturday, making black ice a possibility. Early Saturday, a quick-moving system will move over with the chance of another 1 to 3 inches of snow.
Forecasters expect temperatures to warm above average next week before it turns cold again.
Forecasters expect temperatures to warm above average next week before it turns cold again.
SCHOOL CLOSINGS
- New York City schools are open Friday, according to schools Chancellor Carmen Farina. After-school programs, field trips and sports games are also operating on a normal schedule. Schools were open Thursday, leading to complaints from parents. De Blasio noted that schools had been closed just 11 times since 1978. "It is a rarity and something we do not do lightly," he said. The attendance rate was 45 percent Thursday; an average day is usually around 90 percent.
- The Archdiocese of New York said 98 Catholic elementary schools in the city are closed Friday. Catholic high schools will decide individually about closing or delaying openings, the archdiocese said.
- Check other school closings and delays here.
TRANSIT
- Subway service was expected to run normally Friday, the MTA said. Some sections of outdoor train lines were temporarily suspended overnight to allow for snow clearing. For the latest, go here.
- Metro-North was operating a Saturday schedule on Friday, carrying about 40 percent of normal weekday service. Off-peak fares will apply, and commuters are advised to check schedules before heading out.
- Long Island Rail Road was running at 90 percent capacity during the morning rush.
- Hundreds of flights have been canceled at the region's three major airports.
- Alternate-side parking is suspended through Monday, which is a holiday.
