Anyone expecting to wake up and find New York City covered in a thick blanket of snow from our fourth nor’easter in as many weeks were sorely disappointed Wednesday morning — but the worst is yet to come, forecasters warn.
As the city is expected to be hit with nearly a foot of snow throughout the course of the day, Mayor Bill de Blasio urged residents to stay home if they’re able.
“If you have to travel today, please exercise caution and stay off the roads if you can. If you can stay home, stay home,” he tweeted.
He also asked New Yorkers to check in on their neighbors — and call 311 immediately if they lose heat or hot water.
If you have to travel today please exercise caution and stay off the roads if you can. If you can stay home, stay home. Check in on your neighbors and contact @NYC311 immediately if you lose heat or hot water.
— Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) March 21, 2018
A Winter Storm Warning issued by the National Weather Service is in effect until 6 a.m. Thursday as New York City proper could see between 6 to 10 inches of accumulation and wind gusts up to 39 mph well into Wednesday night. Outer areas could see up to 18 inches.
“Snow this morning will become heavy by afternoon and into the evening,” the NWS said. “Expect significant reductions in visibility at times. Travel will be very difficult to impossible, especially during the evening commute.”
City schools are closed, and alternate side parking has been suspended due to the severity of the forecast for the rest of the day, which is also affecting trash pickup, which will be delayed as the Department of Sanitation will be out on snow patrol with plows and salt spreaders, de Blasio said.
Alternate side parking is suspended today. Trash pickup will be delayed as @NYCSanitation plows and salt spreaders will be out on snow patrol.
— Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) March 21, 2018
As of 12:30 p.m., most MTA subways are running without any weather-related service issues, but due to its Winter Weather Plan, northbound N trains are running local from 59th Street and 36th Street in Brooklyn, and northbound 4 trains are running local from Crown Heights-Utica Avenue to Franklin Avenue.
MTA buses have had service changes and delays most of the day due to the weather conditions. All Queens local, select and express buses are delayed, while limited bus routes elsewhere will run local throughout the day.
Operations on the Long Island Rail Road are currently running without incident, but there will be an extra train from Penn Station to Babylon at 2:22 p.m. for those looking to get an early start home. The train will run express to Rockville Centre and then make all stops to Babylon.
An additional LIRR train bound for Huntington will depart Penn at 2:08 p.m., stopping at Jamaica, Mineola and then all stops to Huntington, and a Hicksville-bound train will depart Penn at 3:24 p.m. and stop at Jamaica, Mineola and Westbury before arriving at Hicksville at 4:05 p.m.
Metro-North is operating on a reduced weekday schedule with combined or canceled trains during peak hours.
Because conditions are expected to worsen throughout the day, the MTA asks that Metro-North commuters only travel if necessary and expect service to be reduced to hourly in the evening.
“For those customers who are unable to postpone their travel until after the storm, please leave as early as possible in the afternoon, and leave extra time to reach your destination,” the MTA said.
The agency added that Metro-North riders should expect delays as conditions worsen throughout its service territory, which could also force it “to suspend service with little advance notice.”
Straphangers should check mta.info for the latest service updates.
Most bus carriers at Port Authority will suspend service as of the late afternoon, officials said just after 1 p.m.
NJ Transit buses will stop operating at 3 p.m., and cross-honoring will be in effect on the agency’s rail, light rail and PATH at Newark, Hoboken and 33rd Street in Manhattan. Rail service is operating on a Severe Weather Schedule. Check njtranist.com for the latest updates.
Amtrak is also running on a modified schedule in its Northeast region, with many trains to and from Penn Station from Boston and Washington, D.C., canceled.
SERVICE ALERT: Due to impending severe weather in the Northeast region, we will be operating modified service on Wed. 3/21. Full service will be restored when weather conditions allow us to safely do so. Service and re-accommodation details are outlined below. pic.twitter.com/RncTFtry7O
— Amtrak Northeast (@AmtrakNEC) March 20, 2018
