The latest nor’easter—which the Weather Channel named “Winter Storm Toby”—hit New York City yesterday, and while the worst case scenario of 18 inches of snow didn’t come to pass (phew), the storm did dump quire a bit of powder on the city. Snowfall began early in the morning, and didn’t let up until well after midnight.
According to the National Weather Service, the snowfall totals last night at the three major measuring points in NYC—JFK Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Central Park’s Belvedere Castle—were all over eight inches, with the highest totals further out on Long Island, in Islip.
So what can we expect today? No snow, thankfully, but there will be all of the gross slush that floods city streets after a storm. (Watch out for big puddles.) The temperature could rise to 44 degrees, so melting is gonna happen.
We made it, New York. There is no more snow in the forecast today, and with a high of 46 degrees a lot of it will probably melt. That means a lot of slippery conditions, so use caution and be careful wherever you go. The low is 33. pic.twitter.com/LWjwbkk6Ag
— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) March 22, 2018
What does this all mean from a practical, go-about your day standpoint? A whole lot, and we have the full rundown here.
Mass transit is slowly getting back to normal
As of this morning, there are already problems—not weather-related, but still—on the New York City subway. (L trains were impacted by a fire on the tracks at Bedford Avenue.) But otherwise, subways are mostly back to normal, though that may change.
We’re experiencing minor weather-related service changes this morning. Some express lines are making local stops, and customers may experience slight delays. A huge thank you to NYC Transit staff for keeping our trains running 24/7 through the snow and sleet. pic.twitter.com/sBVDEvzEX0
— NYCT Subway (@NYCTSubway) March 22, 2018
NYCT bus: Roads are still gross, which means bus service will almost certainly experience delays today; as of right now, limited bus service in Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, and Brooklyn is still running local because of the weather.
Metro-North: Service is back to normal, though you can expect weather-related delays.
LIRR: Service is back to normal, but again, there are likely to be weather-related delays.
NJ Transit: Service is due to operate normally today, though there may be one-off problems related to the weather.
PATH: Back to normal, and no longer cross-honoring NJT tickets.
Keep an eye on the relevant agencies’ Twitter feeds—subway, bus, Metro-North, LIRR, NJT, PATH—for more details.
Citi Bike: Open, with “some reduction in station availability.”
NYC Ferry: All routes are back to normal.
Port Authority: The bus terminal is open, and most routes are running normally.
Public schools are open
⚠️ UPDATE: NYC Public Schools will be OPEN tomorrow, Thursday, March 22, 2018. All programs will operate as scheduled.
— NYC Public Schools (@NYCSchools) March 21, 2018
Flights are still likely to be canceled or delayed
Even though the storm itself has passed, airports are currently dealing with its aftereffects—which means that flights may still be canceled, and there could be delays or other issues as they dig out.
Today is a recovery day for airlines at #JFK. There are more than 90 cancellations (8% of the normal daily schedule). Please check with your airline before coming to the airport.
— Kennedy Airport (@JFKairport) March 22, 2018
Newark reports 130 cancellations so far, and at LaGuardia most airlines are operating as normal, though “weather conditions” have caused disruptions.
Check with your carrier before heading out, and as with mass transit, the Twitter feeds of the three airports—JFK, LGA, and Newark—are good to check in with for updates.
Amtrak trains are also canceled
A good number of trains in and out of New York Penn Station have been canceled—here’s the list straight from Amtrak:
SERVICE UPDATE: Due to the winter storm in the Northeast, we will continue modified service on Thurs. 3/22. Full service will be restored when weather conditions allow us to safely do so. Please continue to follow us for service updates. Details are outlined below. pic.twitter.com/7j3RqfPUOc
— Amtrak Northeast (@AmtrakNEC) March 21, 2018
Alternate side parking is suspended
Alternate side parking has been suspended through today, though meter rules will remain in effect.
Parks and cultural institutions have reopened
Things are getting back to normal at the city’s green spaces and other cultural institutions:
Park update: The High Line will have a delayed opening on Thursday, March 22 while crews work to remove snow and ice. Stay tuned to Twitter for additional updates.
— High Line (@highlinenyc) March 22, 2018
⚠️ SERVICE ALERT: All Queens Library locations will open on Thursday, March 22 at their regularly scheduled times. https://t.co/GJfo8rGvAS We look forward to seeing you, and please stay safe. ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/beN2pmSU3h
— Queens Library (@QueensLibrary) March 22, 2018
Your best bet: Check with the place you were planning on visiting before heading out, in case of delayed openings or other changes.
Keep an eye on your heat and hot water
Your first instinct may be to stay indoors and burrow under a blanket, but what if the heat in your apartment isn’t working? Here’s everything you need to know.
Some NYCHA buildings were without heat and hot water yesterday, adding to the agency’s woes—but that was down to one building by 8 p.m.
Loading comments...