The first major winter storm of the season is impacting the Northeastern United States, bringing a mix of snow, ice, and dangerously low temperatures. While the central U.S. bore the brunt of the storm’s initial impact – resulting in snow and ice blanketing major roadways in Kansas and Indiana, necessitating the activation of the National Guard to assist stranded motorists – the New York City metropolitan area is expected to experience only a glancing blow.
Southern New Jersey, however, is under a winter storm warning, with 4-8 inches of snow anticipated. A winter weather advisory is in effect for areas south of Trenton, New Jersey. In response, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency for several southern counties, enabling the swift deployment of resources. Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. are also anticipated to receive several inches of snow.
The New York City area is forecast to receive only a coating to an inch of snow, with areas north of the city possibly seeing no accumulation at all. Despite the relatively light snowfall predicted for NYC, the city’s Emergency Management Department issued a winter weather alert, urging residents to allow extra travel time for potentially slick road conditions and encouraging the use of public transportation. The NYC Sanitation Department is proactively addressing the potential for icy conditions by pretreating roadways and bike lanes with liquid brine and deploying over 700 salt spreaders. Furthermore, a Code Blue alert has been issued to protect the city’s unhoused population from the anticipated frigid temperatures.
Commissioner Zach Iscol of the NYC Emergency Management Department stressed the importance of preparedness, stating, “We urge New Yorkers to prepare for a challenging morning commute on Monday…The snow will cause slippery road conditions, that will impact drivers and pedestrians.” However, AccuWeather cautions that if the storm’s track shifts further north, NYC could experience significantly more snowfall. For the latest updates, continuous monitoring of AccuWeather forecasts is recommended.
Following the storm’s passage, a dangerous cold snap is predicted for the eastern two-thirds of the country, with temperatures plummeting 12 to 25 degrees below normal due to the southward extension of the polar vortex.