Snowstorm Will Disrupt NYC Commute and Close Schools on Tuesday

Tope Alake and Brian K. Sullivan
·2 min read
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(Bloomberg) -- A nor’easter is poised to dump up to 8 inches (20 centimeters) of snow on New York City on Tuesday, snarling commutes, closing schools and prompting Mayor Eric Adams to urge residents to stay home.

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Snowfall of more than 7.3 inches in Central Park would be the most since January 2022, according to National Weather Service records. Areas north and west of the city could get as much as a foot. Northern New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania and southern New England could see as much as 12 inches of snow. Commutes in Boston, where a gale warning is in effect, also are expected to be impacted.

New York City public schools will move to remote learning on Tuesday, Mayor Eric Adams said. “We expect slippery roads and limited visibility,” Adams said Monday in a press conference. “We’re strongly encouraging New Yorkers if you don’t have to go out, stay home.”

Read More: Snow Threatens US Northeast in February After Spring-Like Warmth

The storm is likely to disrupt traffic and trains, especially in the morning. Flight cancellations and delays are also expected, with wind gusts of up to 40 miles (64 kilometers) per hour and heavy snow set to reduce visibility. Coastal flooding and damage to trees and power lines is possible, the weather service said.

In preparation for the storm, the city’s mass-transit system is fitting chains on bus wheels and preparing de-icing equipment to protect rail lines for its subways and commuter trains, Janno Lieber, chief executive officer of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, said at a press briefing.

“If you’re traveling, MTA will be operating and we intend to get you where you’re headed, not to leave anybody stranded,” he said.

After starting as rain overnight, the storm will transition to snow in the morning before tapering off in the late afternoon, said Bryan Ramsey, a National Weather Service meteorologist. “We are going to see some gusty winds and, with a heavier snowfall, that could cause some reduced visibility on the roadway,” Ramsey said.

New York City is expecting one to two inches of snow per hour for several hours Tuesday morning, Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in the press conference. But the amount will depend on how early the storm transitions from rain to snow, officials said.

Polling sites will remain open in the city on Tuesday for special elections in the Bronx and Queens, including the vote to replace disgraced US Representative George Santos. Alternate side of the street parking will be canceled. All Catholic elementary schools in the Archdiocese of New York will be closed Tuesday with no remote instruction.

--With assistance from Michelle Kaske and Joe Ryan.

(Updates with additional forecast details in the second paragraph.)

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