A major winter storm is hitting New York City and the surrounding suburbs.
Five-to-eight inches of snow is expected for the five boroughs, while the eastern end of Long Island and the Jersey Shore could receive a foot of snow.
“Bottom line is to take this storm very seriously. Very cold temperatures. Definitely a major amount of snow, could get to be a lot more. Wind gusts up to 40 miles per hour. This is serious stuff,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said.
A Blizzard Warning is in effect for the eastern end of Long Island and the Jersey Shore. A Winter Storm Warning is in place for New York City and the surrounding suburbs.
Public school is canceled in New York City on Thursday. Alternate side of the street parking rules have been suspended on both Thursday and Friday.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has declared a state of emergency in Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic and Cape May counties. State government buildings are closed for non-essential employees
Even after the snow tapers off on Thursday afternoon, the weather will continue to be harsh. Temperatures won’t escape the teens on Friday or Saturday.
“The snow is not going to go away. I mean, I have to just say this again and again, is because the temperatures are so cold, you are just going to be able to pile it. You are not going to make it melt away,” Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia said.
New York City has 693 salt spreaders, 1,500 plows and 280,000 pounds of salt at its disposal.
Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy is urging people to stay off the roads. He said the worst of the storm will come Thursday afternoon. Malloy said residents should expect power outages.
Photo Credit: Getty Images