Updated Jan. 4, 12 p.m.
New York City is under a state of emergency today due to the “bomb cyclone” that’s delivering blizzard-like conditions in Queens.
Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency across New York City, Long Island and Westchester. A travel advisory has been issued until 4 p.m. today, calling for everyone to stay off the roads and stay safe.
All flights coming in and out of JFK Airport have been suspended.
Due to the severe weather, the MTA is facing delays and service changes on the subway and buses. The LIRR is also facing delays on the Port Jefferson, Ronkonkoma, Long Beach, Babylon, Far Rockaway and City Terminal Zone lines. All Queens buses are delayed as well. For more information, visit the MTA website.
The @NYCSanitation department is on the job in Queens and citywide. We’ll be updating NYC on the storm at 11:30 – watch it live @NYCMayor. pic.twitter.com/YG7u0ZhG4A
— NYC Mayor’s Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) January 4, 2018
Plows are hard at work clearing the roads throughout the borough. To stay up to date on when the plows are in your area, click here or download the PlowNYC app.
All public schools are also closed today; the city Department of Education announced it last night.
Check out this video taken Thursday morning of the snowy streetscape on 80th Street in Middle Village.
A “bomb cyclone,” also known as an explosive cyclogenesis or a bombogenesis, is defined as a storm that drops 24 millibars of pressure over 24 hours. At its peak, the storm could resemble a winter hurricane with high wind speeds due to the pressure being dropped so quickly.
While New England is expected to bear the storm’s brunt, the New York City area is expected to get 3 to 6 inches of snowfall. Snow is expected to start falling Wednesday night after midnight with the temperature dropping dropping down to 23 degrees and wind chills of 10 to 20 degrees. Winds can be 6 to 16 miles per hour and there could be an inch of snowfall during this time.
On Thursday morning, the temperature will be steady at 24 degrees with wind chills of 10 to 15 degrees. Winds can be 18 to 26 miles per hour and could go as high as 43 miles per hour. There could be 2 to 4 inches of snow during this time.
By Thursday night, there will be a 40 percent chance of snow, mainly before 9 p.m., with a low around 10 degrees. Wind chill values between -5 and 5 degrees with wind speeds ranging from 20 to 24 miles per hour, with gusts as high as 38 miles per hour.
The rest of the weekend faces low temperatures: Friday predicts a high of 14 degrees during the day and a low of 3 degrees at night and a high of 12 degrees and a low of 5 degrees on Saturday. Sunday’s temperature will return to a high of 23 degrees and a low of 21 degrees at night.
The National Weather Service has also issued a Coastal Flood Advisory for vulnerable locations along the shorelines of Southern Queens. The advisory will be in effect from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday.
The New York City Emergency Management Department is issuing a hazardous travel advisory for Thursday, Jan. 4. In the event of flooding, residents are encouraged to prepare a go bag, learn the safest route from your home or workplace to safe, high ground in case of evacuation and keep materials such as sandbags, plywood, plastic sheeting, and lumber on hand to help protect your home.
The NYC Department of Sanitation is pre-deploying 693 salt spreaders. Approximately 1,500 plows will be dispatched when more than two inches of snow accumulates, with additional plows available if necessary. Garbage and recycling collections are suspended until further notice.
NYC Parks will lend the DSNY 44 plows with operators and will prepare an additional 150 plows 150 salt spreaders and other equipment for snow removal on park perimeters. The Department of Transportation will also assist the DSNY with plowing.
The Department of Buildings (DOB) issued a reminder to secure loose property at your home, charge your cellphones and gather any necessary supplies. In the event of a power outage, the DOB advises you to stay clear of downed power lines, turn off all appliances, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed and to not use generators indoors.
For more information, visit nyc.gov/emergencymanagement. New Yorkers are encouraged to sign up for Notify NYC, the City’s free emergency communications program. To sign up for Notify NYC, download the free mobile application, visit NYC.gov/NotifyNYC, call 311, or follow @NotifyNYC on Twitter.
