New York City Emergency Management (EMS) issued a travel advisory on Thursday, Feb. 24, which is in effect through Friday, Feb. 25. The National Weather Service had issued a winter weather advisory for New York City the same day which is also in effect until 1 p.m. on Friday.

 

According to Thursday’s forecast, snow was due to fall on Thursday night and change to a mix of sleet, rain, and possible freezing rain early Friday morning. This has since created icy road conditions as of Friday morning. Rain is forecast from late morning into Friday afternoon with dry conditions likely by the evening commute. Total combined snow and sleet accumulation of 1 to 3 inches, and ice accumulation of up to one-tenth of an inch were expected. However, as of Friday, it appears to be mainly ice and sleet on the ground, rather than snow. 

In the context of the announcement on Thursday, EMS commissioner, Zach Iscol, said, “With a potential wintry mix arriving in New York City Thursday night into Friday morning, New Yorkers should prepare for slippery road conditions, especially during the morning commute.” He added, “We encourage all New Yorkers to use mass transit, allow for extra travel time, and exercise caution.” 

 

Meanwhile, NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) commissioner, Ydanis Rodriguez, also weighed in, saying, “DOT crews will be working around the clock to ensure our roads, bridges, and step streets are pre-treated over the next day, ahead of the rapidly changing weather. We advise motorists to be cautious of the potentially hazardous road conditions and avoid driving if possible.” He added, “We’ll be working closely with our sister agencies at NYC Department of Sanitation and NYC Emergency Management to help keep New Yorkers safe.”

 

Edward Grayson, commissioner of New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY), said, on Thursday, even though it was 70 degrees on Wednesday, winter was far from over, and added that DSNY never bets on rain in February. “We’ve got salt spreaders out working, and will have plows ready to go. We need New Yorkers to be safe and stay off the roads as much as possible, giving us the space to get the job done,” he said.  

 

DSNY officials added that the City’s sanitation department was filling salt spreaders to pretreat New York City’s roadways on Thursday. More than 700 were due to be activated across the City throughout the weather event, as needed to prevent icing conditions. Liquid brine was also placed on certain roadways and protected bike lanes to limit the amount of snow accumulation. DSNY officials added on Thursday that the department was prepared to deploy plows in every sector of the City in the event of snow accumulation over 2 inches.

 

City officials also offered the following safety tips to residents amid the weather advisory:

·         Allow for extra travel time. New Yorkers are urged to use public transportation.  

·         If you must drive, drive slowly. Use major streets or highways for travel whenever possible.  

·         Vehicles take longer to stop on snow and ice than on dry pavement. 

·         Pedestrians should exercise caution and avoid slippery surfaces; some ice may not be visible. Wear sturdy boots that provide traction to reduce slipping. Use handrails when using stairs.  

·         Take care when walking on snow and ice, especially if you are a senior. Seniors should take extra care outdoors to avoid slips and falls from icy conditions.  

·         Have heightened awareness of cars, particularly when approaching or crossing intersections. 

·         Wear layers including a hat, gloves/mittens, and a scarf to stay protected from the cold. And keep clothes and shoes dry, if a layer becomes wet, remove it.

·         Keep fingertips, earlobes, and noses covered if you go outside. 

 

On Friday, Feb. 25, New York State Alerts advised that freezing rain and additional ice accumulation had caused a light
glaze in portions of southeast New York, which will remain until around noon.

 

Residents were advised to take care of very slippery sidewalks, roads and bridges. Officials recommended slowing down, using caution while traveling, and preparing for possible power outages. They also advised New Yorkers to check with their local Department of Transportation bureau for information on the latest, local road conditions.

 

City officials advised that alternate side parking has been suspended for Friday, Feb. 25, 2022.

 

For more safety tips, visit NYC.gov/SevereWeather. Before and during an emergency, the City will send emergency alerts and updates to New Yorkers through various channels including Notify NYC, the City’s free emergency notification system. Through Notify NYC, New Yorkers can receive phone calls, text messages, and/or emails alerts about traffic and transit disruptions and other emergencies.

 

 

 

Sign up for Notify NYC to receive free emergency alerts and updates in your preferred language by visiting NYC.gov/NotifyNYC, calling 311 (212-639-9675 for Video Relay Service, or TTY: 212-504-4115), following @NotifyNYC on Twitter, or getting the free Notify NYC mobile application for your Apple or Android device.