All New York City public schools are closed Friday due to Snowstorm Hercules, education officials announced.
Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña made the call to give city kids a snow day Jan. 3 shortly after 5 a.m. Friday field trips, PSAL games and after-school activities are also called off.
St. John’s University and Queensborough Community College has closed, as well, university officials said.
The first major snowstorm of 2014 so far has forced the temporary shutdown of the Long Island Expressway from the Queens/Nassau County border to Riverhead.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the ban on commercial and passenger vehicles will be extended until 8 a.m.
A winter storm warning has been issued until 1 p.m. Friday. About five to nine inches of snow are expected, with winds up to 35 mph, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
Kew Gardens and South Ozone Park had accumulated more than 5 inches of snow as of 4 a.m., according to NWS.
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