NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A powerful nor'easter slammed the Tri-State area Saturday with heavy snow and high winds, creating dangerous blizzard-like conditions that prompted the suspension of some mass transit service and canceled hundreds of flights across the region.
Here's the latest:
5:35 p.m., JAN 30: As New York and New Jersey continue dig out from the snow storm, frigid cold temperatures remain. The MTA is anticipating service to operate normally for the start of the work week on Monday.
Mayor Eric Adams spoke to 1010 WINS on Saturday about his favorite sledding areas in the city, promising to tweet out his recommendations. The mayor highlighted the best places to sled in each borough on Sunday.
10:15 a.m., JAN 30: Gov. Kathy Hochul called into WCBS-TV on Sunday morning to give an update on the state's response to the storm. Now that snowfall has ceased, the state is focused on recovery, continuing to plow and clear snow from the roads. Hochul also said there were about 300 minor motor vehicle accidents yesterday from the storm, lower than what it could've been if more people were out on the roads.
Long Island was hit especially hard, Hochul added. The town of Islip had a whopping 24.7 inches of snow accumulation and required assistance from state crews to help plow.
The Department of Sanitation announced they are looking for temporary snow laborers to remove snow and ice from areas around the city. Pay starts at $17 per hour.
4:10 p.m., JAN 29: Gov. Kathy Hochul spoke on 1010 WINS about the state's response to the winter storm. While the snow fall has tapered off in some areas, Hochul said it is likely to pick back up later. The governor urged those who have to travel on the roads to do so while there it is still light out. Hochul said some areas are still at significant risk of power outages because of freezing temperatures, with 800 homes throughout the state currently experiencing an outage.
Hochul added that buses and rails should be operating on normal schedules by Monday morning, including the NICE bus lines which temporarily halted services on Saturday.
12:10 p.m., JAN 29: The National Weather Service confirmed a blizzard on the New Jersey Coast and Delaware Beaches. Blizzard conditions are defined as three or more hours of visibility reduction to one quarter mile or less due to falling or blowing snow and sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more.
The confirmed blizzard areas include the Monmouth County coast, Long Beach Island, Atlantic City, Cape May and all of the Delaware beaches.
11:30 a.m., JAN 29: Gov. Kathy Hochul held a storm briefing on Saturday reiterating the dangerous conditions of the nor'easter, reminding New Yorkers to stay inside if they are able to.
Hochul described the storm as a "classic nor'easter" with high winds and heavy snow, warning warned the public that it could be "life-threatening."
Hochul reported some parts of Long Island are already seeing almost a foot of snow as of 9:30 a.m. and should expect another 5-12 inches until about 6 p.m. New York City was hit with 4-inches in the morning and could get another 4 to 7 inches before 3 p.m. The storm is expected to taper off later Saturday and will not continue into Sunday.
Hochul shared a snow shoveling tips to keep in mind — don't shovel with your hands, utilize your knees, the governor said. There is also the risk of overexerting yourself while shoveling and Hochul reminded New Yorkers to take breaks and be mindful of exhaustion. In the event of your car getting stuck on the road in the snow, Hochul emphasized that you should stay in your vehicle until help arrives.
The governor and her team will be continuously monitoring the storm and updating New Yorkers on the latest conditions.
11:00 a.m., JAN. 29: Nassau Inter-County Express (NICE) bus service is being temporarily suspended as of 11:30 a.m. due to hazardous road conditions including heavy snow, high wind and zero visibility.
Riders are advised to check the NICE Bus Service Alert website or NICE Go Mobile app for updates.
10:23 a.m. Jan. 29: Snowfall in New York City was already over 5 inches by 7 a.m. on Saturday with the total accumulation quickly rising. Outside of the city, areas of New Jersey already had a foot of snow pile up by 7 a.m. on Saturday. Long Island and Connecticut are expecting up to two feet of snow with power outages and coastal flooding probable.
8:03 a.m., JAN. 29: A snowplow operator discovered a woman dead in a car on Long Island early Saturday morning as a powerful nor'easter brought heavy snow and high winds to the area.
A cause of death has not been released, but Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said it appears the woman suffered a heart attack or other catastrophic health event and was unable to get out of her car to get help due to the weather.
Authorities have not released the woman's name or age.
Related
9:40 p.m., JAN. 28: If you have to get up early Saturday to shovel -- keep in mind how cold it's going to be.
The National Weather Service warned that wind chills will likely be no higher than 10 on Saturday, with some barely making it above zero.
NWS also forecasted the worst wind chills around -10 in Connecticut and Long Island and near -5 in NYC and northern New Jersey.
9:10 p.m., JAN. 28: The flight cancellations are rolling in across the NYC Metro area Saturday. According to FlightAware.com as of 9 p.m.:
- 452 flights out of JFK are canceled for Saturday (80%).
- 276 flights out of LGA are canceled for Saturday (96%).
- 319 flights out of Newark are canceled for Saturday (91%).
Over 100 Sunday flights out of LaGuardia and JFK have already been canceled as well.
8:15 p.m., JAN. 28: New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy joins WINS live to talk about the storm, which could bring up to 18 inches of snow to the state's shoreline. He talked about how the state is preparing, what his biggest concerns are and how it’ll affect vaccination efforts.
7:40 p.m., JAN. 28: The New York Islanders' Saturday game vs. Seattle at UBS Arena has been postponed due to the impending weather.
The game will be made up on Wednesday, Feb. 2 at 7 p.m.
The Isles have had to deal with a whole host of postponed games due to COVID already this season.
7:30 p.m., JAN. 28: The National Weather Service has released its latest snow projects Friday night:
Projections have jumped -- with Manhattan near 9 inches, JFK over 11 inches, and the eastern tip of Long Island just short of 18 inches.
The entire central to southern Jersey Shore line is at a 12-18-inch projections, while things progressively back off as you head west.
6:15 p.m., JAN. 28: More transit issues to look out for across the Tri-State:
NICE buses on Long Island are still due to run during the winter storm, but officials are asking commuters to expect cancellations and delays.
Westchester's Bee Line buses will not operate Saturday, but are due back Sunday.
And plenty of cancellations and changes are on the way Sunday on Amtrak. Here's the full list:
All Acela Service (operating between Washington, D.C. and Boston) is cancelled
All Northeast Regional & Vermonter Service between Boston and New York is
cancelled
Limited Northeast Regional Service between New York and Washington, D.C. and points south.
Lake Shore Limited trains 49/449 (operating between Chicago and New York/Boston) are cancelled.
All Springfield Shuttle service between New Haven and Greenfield, Mass. is
cancelled
Limited Downeaster Service (operating between Brunswick, Maine to Boston)
Limited Empire Service (operating between New York and Albany)
Limited Keystone Service will operate between Philadelphia and Harrisburg ONLY(No Keystone Service trains will operate between Philadelphia and New York)
Palmetto train 90 (operating between New York and Savannah, Ga.) will terminate in Washington, D.C.
Carolinian/Piedmont train 80 (operating between Charlotte and New York) will terminate in Washington, D.C.
3:50 p.m., JAN. 28: The Long Island Rail Road will be suspended, by 8 a.m. Saturday, officials announced. Long Island, especially Suffolk County, could take among the biggest hits from the incoming storm.
On NYC subways, officials said service could be suspended Saturday on outdoor lines, which particularly affects the Rockaways, the D/N/Q in Brooklyn and the 5 in the Bronx.
MTA buses will operate, but expect delays. Smaller buses with tire chains will be in service.
Officials announced earlier that Metro-North service on the Wassaic, New Canaan, Danbury and Waterbury branches is suspended, while trains will run hourly on the Hudson, Harlem and New Haven Lines.
Meanwhile, NJ Transit will suspend all bus, River LINE and Access Link service at the start of the day on Saturday, but is anticipating a resumption later in the day.
3:15 p.m., JAN. 28: Mayor Adams and fellow city officials provided an update on their preparations for the snow Friday afternoon. Here’s what to know:
- Alternate Side Parking suspended from Saturday through Tuesday Feb. 1.
- Vaccination appointments at city-run sites for Saturday will be rescheduled for Sunday.
- Outdoor dining will be open Friday night, suspended Saturday
- The Dept. of Sanitation said their COVID numbers are low, and will be ready.
- Officials asking if you need to go somewhere to use public transportation.
2:50 p.m., JAN. 28: Most city-run COVID testing and vaccination sites will close by 5 p.m. Friday and will not be open on Saturday due to the storm.
2:45 p.m., JAN. 28: Metro-North's Wassaic, New Canaan, Danbury and Waterbury branches suspended... Trains will run hourly on the Hudson, Harlem and New Haven Lines.
2:30 p.m., JAN. 28: New York City’s Department of Sanitation issued a snow alert, which takes effect Friday at 4 p.m. and continues through 7 a.m. Sunday. Pretreating of roadways began Friday morning, with salt spreaders, brine and liquid pretreatment all part of the rollout. More than 2,000 plows will be at the ready.
Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for the entire state of New York beginning at 8 p.m. Friday. She said rapid snowfall rates and strong winds will make for “very treacherous” conditions and urged New Yorkers to stay off roads.
Jackie Bray, commissioner for the New York state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, said the Emergency Operations Center has been activated.
The state police will increase patrols, particularly on Long Island roadways, Bray said. State parks on Long Island will also close Saturday as a precaution.
MTA officials confirmed that the Long Island Rail Road be suspended by 8 a.m. Saturday, with the goal to reopen the following day.
“The LIRR is about to take what is sure to be the biggest hit this weekend of the MTA operations,” Lieber said. “We are preparing to suspend service early [Saturday] morning during the worst of the storm.”
12 p.m., Jan. 28: Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency starting at 5 p.m. Friday and said New Jersey is preparing for a “significant statewide snow event.”
Murphy said the state is also putting in place a commercial vehicle travel restriction, which also starts at 5 p.m. The governor warned against unnecessary travel and of the potential for widespread power outages, saying his office had been in touch with the state’s largest power providers.
