STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — In preparation for the first blizzard for New York in a decade, the New York City Emergency Management Department has issued a hazardous travel advisory for Sunday and Monday.
Due to heavy snow, strong winds and reduced visibility, road conditions may be poor and officials are urging residents to avoid non-essential travel.
“As our city prepares for levels of snow not seen since 2016, my administration is ready. We are activating every tool at our disposal to keep New Yorkers safe, informed and indoors,” Mayor Zohran Mamdani said in a statement.
“We all have a role to play in keeping our communities and neighbors safe, and so while DSNY loads salt spreaders and DOT prepares our streets for snowfall, I am encouraging every New Yorker to stay inside and avoid travel.”
The travel warning comes after New York City has already issued a blizzard warning for the storm, which could bring over 20 inches of snow.
According to the National Weather Service, the blizzard warning is in effect from 1 p.m. on Sunday through 6 p.m. Monday.
Travel is expected to turn dangerous overnight into Monday morning as heavy snow, wind gusts up to 55 mph and possible whiteout conditions hit the city.
Adding to the hazard, NWS has also issued a coastal flood warning for the New York City area, which could bring moderate coastal flooding and up to one to two feet of flooding in low-lying areas.
“New Yorkers should prepare for what could be the most significant snowfall we’ve seen this year,” said NYCEM Commissioner Christina Farrell.
Staten Island warming centers
Warming centers in all five boroughs have been activated including: Curtis High School, located at 105 Hamilton Ave. in St. George; New Dorp High School, located at 465 New Dorp Lane; and the Project Hospitality Drop-In Center at 150 Richmond Terr. in St. George.
City summons reinforcements
As part of the preparation for the storm, Mamdani said on Saturday that the city would be bringing in outside equipment to be better prepared for this weather event compared to storms past.
The special equipment includes tow trucks, large front-end loaders and specialized equipment for clearing crosswalks and bus stops, the mayor said.
New Yorkers should expect a delay of a “few days” in their trash collection, and try to hold their recycling for next week, Mamdani said.
DSNY is also looking for able-bodied New Yorkers to sign up for the city’s emergency snow shoveler program.
The shoveling jobs, which focus on bus stops, crosswalks, fire hydrants, and other public areas, pay $19.14 an hour with the possibility for a raise to $28.71 an hour if working more than 40 hours in a week, according to the Department of Sanitation.
On Saturday, Mamdani also said that his administration is expecting it to be worse than January’s Winter Storm Fern.
January’s Winter Storm Fern brought around a foot of snow to much of the five boroughs, including an 11.4-inch official measurement in Central Park.
The last blizzard to hit Staten Island came in 2016 bringing close to 30 inches of snow across the five boroughs.