Windswept Snowstorm Blasts Tri-State, Dumps Record Amounts of Snow
Mayor de Blasio says he expects NYC schools to reopen Friday
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The dig out begins in Suffolk County on Long Island after a punishing storm dropped more than a foot of snow. Michael George reports.
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More than 9 inches of snow had fallen in parts of New York City by lunchtime, with a foot-plus forecast for parts of Long Island and NJ
Schools were closed in New York City Thursday, but Mayor de Blasio said he expects schools to reopen Friday
The snow had stopped falling by Thursday evening, but it will leave behind brutal cold and wind chills below zero on Friday
A vicious winter storm assaulted the tri-state area with fast-falling snow and whipping winds, dumping record amounts of snow for this date across the region.
Central Park got 9.8 inches of snow, while JFK Airport saw 8 inches. Islip measured 15.8 inches of snow, Newark 8.4 inches and Bridgeport 8 inches. All set new records for snowfall on the date of Jan. 4.
All blizzard and winter warnings for the region had been canceled by 7:30 p.m., after a full day of a nor'easter pelting the region. As the storm intensified Thursday morning, Gov. Cuomo declared a state of emergency for New York City, Westchester and Long Island, and he pleaded with people to stay off the roads for the evening commute.
Rob Fodera
R train station at 77th Street
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8th Street subway station
Gisell Gomez
175th Street subway station on the A line
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Bergen Street subway station
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77th Street subway station on the R line
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Bergen Street subway station
(Left) Ren Fuller http://renfuller.com/ (Right) Coppa
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8th Street station
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Prince Street station
Marian Larkin
Court Square subway
Marian Larkin
Court Square subway
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46th Street station in Sunnyside
More than 13 inches of snow had fallen in parts of Queens by 3 p.m., exceeding the initially forecast 6 to 8 inches for the overall city with hours of storm to go. Parts of New Jersey and Long Island saw even more, with 18 inches recorded in Ocean County's Brick Township by 4 p.m. and over 14 inches in Sayville in Suffolk County. Wind gusts nearing and even topping 60 mph made for blizzard-like conditions from New York to the Jersey Shore, cutting power to thousands of people and forcing JFK and LaGuardia airports to temporarily suspend all flights. Check the latest snow totals in your neighborhood here.
The snow began to overspread the city as the morning rush began. By 7:30 a.m., a layer of white coated pedestrian areas in Times Square. The live camera shook from intense winds and traffic appeared to be moving slowly. The snow fell, heavy at times, through most of the day on Thursday, and the evening commute was expected to be especially perilous as mounds of dirty, shin-high snow build up in the middle of major thoroughfares and scrape the undercarriages of vehicles. See the latest on mass transit here.
.@NYCSchools will be closed tomorrow, Thursday, January 4th, due to the snowstorm.
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Firefighters extinguish a vehicle fire during a winter snowstorm in Atlantic City, N.J.
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A boat sits in a sheet of ice and snow following a snowstorm that hit the New Jersey Shore, Thursday.
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A man shovels snow off of a tent belonging to The Big Apple Circus in Lincoln Center.
Times Square getting cleaned up.
Julio Cortez/AP
A man walks into the unknown.
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An unlucky umbrella-user.
Many cars were buried under over a feet of snow.
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A woman uses an umbrella to brave the storm.
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Season allergies at work.
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A man walks over a pass in Tribeca.
@natyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
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Sunnyside, Queens
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Sunnyside, Queens
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Sunnyside, Queens
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Sunnyside, Queens
Snow piled high in parts of Long Island, where the highest amount of snow was recorded.
The Long Island Rail Road continued to run, but MTA Chairman Joe Lhota said he was worried about the "completely exposed" rail road.
Whiteout conditions in New Jersey.
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A gas station roof collapsed in Garfield, New Jersey.
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Cars were buried in snow in Asbury Park, New Jersey.
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A liquor store owner in Asbury Park was trying to keep his business open despite the weather.
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A truck jackknifed in Darien, Connecticut.
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Pedestrians enjoying a walk through snow-covered Central Park.
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Snow in Central Park on Thursday.
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Few people ventured into Central Park at the height of the storm Thursday.
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A short distance from Central Park West, Central Park looked like a rustic winter oasis.
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Emergency responders from the FDNY and NYPD were patrolling around Midtown amid heavy snow and biting wind.
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Pedestrians near Times Square on Thursday.
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Kids make snowmen in Central Park.
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People stroll in Central Park on Thursday.
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A person walks a dog in Central Park.
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A boy sleds in Central Park.
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One last dusting for the season for the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.
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Yes, yes it is in fact "Frozen" in this Jan. 4, 2018 snowstorm
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Demand for taxis was high at the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
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Hard not to like New York City in a snowstorm.
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Times Square is already a sloppy mess at sunrise, with plenty more yet to come.
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The roads in Weehawken were already covered before the sun even came up.
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This security camera in Maplewood, New Jersey, shows heavy flurries starting to fly by 6:30 a.m.
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Two hours of snow in northern New Jersey were already piling up.
As the storm made its way north, Atlantic City and other parts of south Jersey got the first wallop.
Just after 6 a.m., snow was already starting to pile up in Long Island as well.
In New York City, it was warm enough that snow was melting when it hit the ground, leaving streets and sidewalks slick.
Across the region, road conditions deteriorated quickly, and the worst of the storm (and commute) had not even started yet.
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Mason Siegel
A cat cautiously wanders into its owner's backyard on the Upper West Side.
All New York City schools were closed Thursday, and other schools across the tri-state reported closings and delays as well. Schools will be open Friday, and all programs and activities will be held as scheduled, the Department of Education said, confirming Mayor de Blasio's earlier statement that he expected schools to be open. All field trips requiring yellow school buses, however, will be canceled.
Alternate-side parking is suspended in the city through Saturday, though meter rules remain in effect. The mayor and city sanitation chief both say that with snowfall rates of up to 3 inches an hour possible and a deep freeze ahead, New Yorkers should not expect to see blacktop on most streets for days.
A docked Citi Bike is seen being tossed around like a toy at 41st St by 8th Ave on Thursday.
Wind gusts, though not as strong as along coastal areas, caused power outages throughout the region.
@lainiemschultz
White Family
Savannah in the snow in Lewisboro, New York
Oliver in Clifton, New Jersey
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Daisy the beagle in Port Washington, New York
Raven in the snow: "Not coming in, Mom!"
Joan Mahoney
Saint Bernard in the snow
Sookie Davis
Hudson at the dog run on East 63rd Street
Mason Siegel
A cat cautiously joins its friend in their owner's backyard on the Upper West Side.
Michael Jacobs
Retired NYPD K9 Jacob on Staten Island
Arnav Bhutada
A puppy enjoys some time prancing in the snow.
Nancy Curran
A cat waits for its spouse to return from a long day of work.
The flakes tapered off by Thursday evening, but even with the snow moving out, wind gusts of 40 mph or more will lead to areas of blowing and drifting snow.
It turns brutally cold behind this system. Forecasters say high temperatures Friday and Saturday will top out at about 14 degrees. Storm Team 4 says actual temps in the city could hit -2 on Friday, with -15 north and west. Dangerously cold wind chills as low as 30 below zero will cause frostbite in as little as 10 minutes to exposed skin, especially Friday night into Saturday. Wind chills could range from 25 to 35 below zero Friday night into Saturday.
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There are a number of things you can do to protect pipes from freezing, according to the American Red Cross. Among them: drain water from water sprinkler supply lines; draining and storing hoses; closing inside valves supply outdoor hose bibs and then opening hose bibs to allow water to drain; adding insulation to attics, basements and crawl spaces; install products made to insulate water pipes, such as “pipe sleeves” or UL-listed “heat tape.” See more recommended protections here.
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To prevent frozen pipes, let your hot and cold faucets drip overnight and open cabinet doors to allow heat to get to uninsulated pipes under sinks on exterior walls. The water you run doesn’t have to be warm, even cold water at a trickle helps prevent pipes from freezing.
Watertown Fire Department
Setting your thermostat at the same temperature day and night will help prevent your pipes from freezing and bursting. While avoiding a high heating bill might be tempting, you could be protecting yourself from costly repairs from frozen or burst pipes. And if you’re going to be away from home for an extended period of time, don't lower heat below 55 degrees.
Eric S. Page
Keep your house heated to a minimum of 65 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature inside the walls where the pipes are located is substantially colder than the walls themselves. A temperature lower than 65 degrees might not keep the inside walls from freezing.
AP
If only a trickle of water is coming out of your faucet, a frozen pipe may be to blame. Pipes most susceptible to freezing are against exterior walls or where water enters your home through the foundation. If you’re able to locate the frozen pipe, apply heat using an electric heating pad, an electric hair dryer, a portable space heater or by wrapping pipes with towels soaked in hot water. Be careful with the heat source and don’t use open flame devices such as blowtorches or propane heaters. If you can’t locate the frozen pipe or if it’s not accessible, call a licensed plumber.
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Check all other faucets in your home to see if you have any other frozen pipes. Pipes in colder areas of your home, including the attic, basement and crawl spaces, are the most likely to freeze.
