Weather Updates: NY area braces for what could be the biggest snow storm in years

NEW YORK (WABC) – Classes at schools in New York City will meet as usual Wednesday, despite the approaching winter storm.

Mayor Bill de Blasio says the snow days era is over thanks to the advent of distance learning as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

In any case, everyone is expected to sit in front of a computer screen on Thursday morning, when the city is expected to be covered with snow.

What to know:

How much snow to expect
AccuWeather forecast
Watches, warnings, and advisories from the National Weather Service
Check here for school closures in the Tri-State area

WEDNESDAY

Snow preparations conclude outdoor dining in NYC
The Tri-State area is bracing for a major snowstorm Wednesday, and the New York City Department of Sanitation has issued a snow warning from 2 p.m. to put an end to outdoor dining in the city. It means that restaurants that have just lost their indoor dining options will lose even more sales during the snow alert. The city will notify restaurants when they can reopen roadway seats for al fresco dining.

TUESDAY

Emergency CT surgery to stay active; residents are urged to avoid travel
Governor Ned Lamont announced that the State Emergency Operations Center, which has already been virtually activated for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, will remain activated to monitor and respond to conditions stemming from the significant winter storm expected to commence on Wednesday from Connecticut. will hit. night and continue until Thursday. In addition, the governor is urging residents to avoid all unnecessary travel during the storm, as significant amounts of snow are expected to cause slippery conditions on the roads. According to current forecast, parts of Connecticut should receive accumulations of more than 12 inches of snow and gusts of wind up to 45 miles per hour along the coast.

Newark issues ‘Code Blue’ for incoming winter storm
The Mayor of Newark Ras Baraka and the director of the community’s Department of Health and Welfare, Dr. Mark Wade, activate a “Code Blue” for Wednesday December 16 through Friday December 18. “Code Blue” is called when the temperature reaches 25F or below with no precipitation. 32F or less with precipitation, or a wind chill factor of 0 or less.

New Yorkers advised to leave cars at home and stay on the road before storms
Mayor Bill de Blasio asked New Yorkers to leave their cars at home on Wednesday and take public transportation. He fears there will be problems getting home in the evening or Thursday morning.

Alternative Side Parking will be suspended for the next two days
NYC officials have announced that Alternate Side Parking will be suspended for Wednesday and Thursday. Parking meters remain in effect.

NYC Test and Trace reduce hours
Please note that the #NYCTestandTrace test locations will have limited opening hours tomorrow and Thursday due to the approaching winter storm.

Wednesday: all sites stop testing at 2 p.m.
Thursday: All sites will resume testing at noon

Plainfield Public Schools close Wednesday, Thursday
Plainfield Public Schools in New Jersey have announced that they are closing Wednesday and Thursday due to impending bad weather. However, students virtually stay in school on those days. All student transport will be stopped on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Also, all employees of the Plainfield Board of Education will work virtually, with the exception of the buildings and grounds department.

Update winter storm schools in NYC
Mayor Bill de Blasio confirmed on Tuesday that schools in New York City will be open for personal learning on Wednesday, ahead of a major winter storm. As for Thursday, that has yet to be determined.

Nassau County is preparing for a winter storm
County Executive Laura Curran announced on Tuesday that they can expect “blizzard conditions” from Wednesday evening to Thursday morning. Curran asked the residents to leave work early so that roads could be cleared for the workers and avoid traveling when the storm broke. She said the salt domes are full and trucks are brining the roads on Tuesday. The province has 21,400 tons of salt available. Heating centers are open on Thursdays from 8:00 am – 6:00 pm – all following COVID protocols. Warm beds are open from 6 pm, as well as emergency accommodation. Curran said she trusts school districts to make decisions about whether or not to open and will be on hand to support if anything is needed. Also, the county does not require outdoor eating structures to be torn down just when it becomes a hazard.

Suffolk County is preparing for the winter storm
Suffolk County officials said they are “doing whatever we need to be ready” for what they called the “first pandemic blizzard.” County Executive Steve Bellone said the area will take a “real blow” from the great storm. Bellone said what makes the storm so troubling is the elements of heavy snow, sleet and high winds. He added that the area has not seen this type of significant snow for a long time. Officials warned Wednesday during the night hours of possible power outages and messy conditions for drivers. High military vehicles will be available and useful for heavy snow and flooding.

Outdoor dining in NYC must be closed under Snow Alert
The New York City Department of Sanitation has issued a snow warning for Wednesday, starting at 2 p.m., ending outdoor dining in the city. At the moment, the city is not asking that restaurants remove barriers or structures for roadside dining.

How much snow can you expect
Snow totals of 6 “-10” are possible along the I-95 corridor including New York City, with possibly higher amounts in the north and west where the snow will be lighter due to colder temperatures.
Any deviation in the storm path can cause some mixing issues south and east of the city, potentially limiting totals there.

Winter Storm Watch released
An early winter storm could dump more than a foot of snow over parts of the Tri-State area from Wednesday through Thursday, according to the AccuWeather forecast. Starting Wednesday, a Winter Storm Watch has been issued for the entire New York City and Tri-State area.
———-
* Download the AccuWeather app
* More AccuWeather
* Follow us on YouTube
* More local news
* Sign up for free newsletters
* Download the abc7NY app for important news alerts Submit a news tip