Tri-State Area Blizzard: Snow Totals, Cleanup, and Impacts

Blizzard Conditions and Snowfall

• ❄️ The "Blizzard of 2026" significantly impacted the Tri-State Area, burying the region under heavy, wet snow.
• ⚠️ Downed trees and stranded buses were reported in areas like the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island, indicating storm damage.
• 📏 Lonnie Quinn reported widespread significant snow totals, with many areas receiving 18 inches or more, and some locations exceeding 2 feet.
• 📊 Grassmere, Staten Island, recorded the highest snow total at 24.1 inches, with Central Park reaching 19.7 inches, making it the ninth biggest storm on record for the location.
• 🥶 Temperatures are dropping, leading to concerns about refreezing on roadways, making travel hazardous.

Cleanup and Transportation Impacts

• 🚧 City officials stated that 99% of New York City locations were plowed at least once, but full cleanup is expected to take days.
• 🚗 Side streets, particularly in Queens, showed significant snow accumulation, with plows not having reached some areas more than once.
• ✈️ Airports like JFK, Newark, and LaGuardia experienced over 1,000 flight cancellations, with further cancellations expected for the following day.
• 🚆 MTA services, including the LIRR, remained suspended due to weather conditions, while NJ Transit resumed some light rail services on a Sunday schedule.
• 🛣️ A hazardous travel advisory was in place for non-emergency traffic, with highways in New Jersey seeing improvements after initial closures.

Community and Personal Impact

• 🎉 Despite the challenges, the storm provided a "snow day" for children, who enjoyed playing in the snow.
• 🏫 Mayor Adams announced that schools would reopen for in-person sessions the following day, despite ongoing cleanup efforts.
• 🤝 Neighbors were observed helping each other with shoveling, highlighting community support during the cleanup.
• 🥶 Many residents experienced power outages, with thousands reported across JCP&L, PSEG Long Island, Con Edison, and PSEG.
• 🚗 Some drivers reported treacherous conditions, with journeys taking significantly longer due to snow and slush-filled roads.