NYC Mayor de Blasio: Expect 'one of the largest snowstorms in the history of this city'. You have been warned.
NEW YORK — Mayor Bill de Blasio warned residents on Sunday afternoon that New York City is facing "one of the largest snowstorms in the history of this city."
"Don't underestimate this storm," de Blasio said, adding that those in the tri-state area could "easily" expect between 2 and 3 feet of snow. "Assume that you don't want to be out in this storm. Stay off the roads. Make plans to travel another day and try with everything you have to avoid being in the middle of this storm."
De Blasio said there will be 500 salt spreaders out in New York City ahead of the snowfall, as well as 1,500 snow plows deployed when at least 2 inches have accumulated on the ground. The city has already sent out pothole crews to repair streets in anticipation of the storm.
De Blasio added that commuters should rearrange plans to make sure they are home by Monday afternoon. School will still be in session across the city, but after-school activities have been cancelled. He advised workers to go into the office early on Monday, or avoid commuting all together, as travel home could be dangerous by nightfall.
"Now is the time to get ready for this extreme weather. It is so important to focus on safety," he said."Now is the time to get ready for this extreme weather. It is so important to focus on safety," he said.
The mayor held up a list of the snowiest storms in the history of New York City, and said this one could be the worst — potentially surpassing record-breaking storms from Feb. 2006 (26.9 inches), Dec. 1947 (26.4 inches) and March 1888 (21 inches).
While some might associate blizzards with significant snowfall, they are more about visibility. Blizzards also typically have at least three hours of snowfall, blowing or falling snow, and sustained wind gusts of 35 mph or more.
According to forecast predictions, this particular snowstorm — which the National Weather Service of New York is calling a "crippling and potentially historic blizzard" — could reach wind speeds of 70 mph, and drop 4 inches of snow per hour. It would mark the tri-state region's first blizzard of this year, and could hit areas from New York City to southern New England the hardest, with about 2 feet of snow or more.
Stemming from a storm off the East Coast, snowfall is expected to begin Monday afternoon, and could last until Wednesday morning.
The massive storm could present New York City and de Blasio with a major challenge; last year, the mayor faced criticism last winter for the poor snowfall removal performance of city plows during a smaller storm. It will also be the first large-scale snowstorm that Boston's new mayor, Martin J. Walsh, will face since being sworn in earlier this month.
To prepare for the storm, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned residents in a statement to expect flight cancelations and road closures. "With a major winter storm approaching the state, I urge New Yorkers to take all necessary precautions, and make preparations for the possibility that commutes will be disrupted on Monday and Tuesday," he said.
New York City will store trains in underground tunnels, and equip buses with chains or snow tires to ensure protection and safety. The U.S. National Guard will have six dozen personnel and 20 vehicles stationed across the region starting Monday morning.