NYC Blizzard Update: Snow Totals, School Reopening, and Travel Conditions

Snowfall and Current Conditions

• ❄️ The Tri-State Area experienced its second major snowstorm of the year, with some locations receiving over 30 inches of snow.
• 🌡️ Temperatures are currently around 34 degrees, which has helped clear some main roads, but a risk of refreezing remains as temperatures are expected to drop into the 20s tonight.
• ⚠️ The blizzard warning was canceled after 5:00 PM, but a hazardous travel advisory is in effect through midnight tonight.

Road and Transit Updates

• 🚗 Main roads in areas like Middle Village, Queens, are relatively clear, but side streets show less clearing, with sanitation crews having visited most streets once or twice.
• 🚆 NJ Transit and LIRR services were suspended, but the LIRR will restore service on six branches starting at 4:00 AM tomorrow.
• 🚶 Pedestrians in Midtown faced challenges with snow and slush-filled sidewalks, sometimes walking in the street.
• 🚧 Property owners have approximately four hours after the snow stops to clear sidewalks in front of their homes.

School Reopening and Controversy

• 🏫 City schools will reopen for in-person learning tomorrow, a decision facing backlash from some lawmakers, teachers, and parents.
• 🚫 Catholic schools on Staten Island will remain closed due to safety concerns and impassable roads.
• 🗣️ Mayor Adams' spokesperson stated that schools are critical for the well-being of nearly 900,000 New Yorkers, providing meals, mental health support, and childcare.

Long Island and New Jersey Conditions

• 🚧 A travel ban has been lifted in Suffolk County, Long Island, where residents and crews worked to clear snow.
• 🌨️ Some areas in Suffolk County still have roads covered with snow, making driving dangerous.
• 🚗 In Ridgewood, New Jersey, highway conditions are improving, but local roads are a mixed bag, with cleanup expected to take a couple of days.
• 🌬️ The Jersey Shore experienced whipping winds and slick, dangerous roads, though plows remained active.