NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ISSUES HAZARDOUS TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 28, THROUGH SATURDAY, JANUARY 29

 

Winter Storm Warning in effect for New York City Friday evening through Saturday evening 

 

Snow and frigid temperatures expected

Alternate Side Parking Regulations are suspended for Saturday, January 29 

 The New York City Emergency Management Department today issued a hazardous travel advisory for Friday evening, January 28, through Saturday, January 29. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Winter Storm Warning for New York City in effect from 7 p.m. Friday through 7 p.m. Saturday, January 29. A Winter Storm Warning is issued when heavy snow of 6 inches or more is expected to significantly impact mass transit, utilities, and cause difficult travel conditions. New Yorkers should prepare for snow covered roads and limited visibility. New Yorkers are advised to avoid travel Friday night through Saturday evening, as roads will be dangerous.

According to the latest National Weather Service forecast, light snow will develop Friday evening, becoming steadier and heavier overnight into Saturday morning. Snow will continue through Saturday afternoon and begin to taper off in the late afternoon. A total of 8 to 12 inches of accumulation is expected with this event, with locally higher amounts possible. Temperatures will be in the low 20s to mid-teens with wind chills near or below zero from Saturday morning through mid-day Sunday. Wind gusts may also be as high as 50 mph with strong gusts continuing through Saturday night, producing low visibility due to drifting and blowing snow, even after snowfall has ended.

 

“We are working closely with the National Weather Service and key City agencies to monitor and coordinate the City’s preparations ahead of this storm,” said New York City Emergency Management Acting Commissioner Christina Farrell. “The combination of snow, potential strong winds, and the quick drop in temperatures will cause extremely dangerous road conditions. We are advising all New Yorkers to avoid all unnecessary travel and stay off the roads on Friday night to Saturday evening.” 

 

“New Yorkers may wake up tomorrow to find a significant overnight snowfall, with more to come throughout the day. The 10,000 employees of the Department of Sanitation will be working 12-hour shifts today and throughout the weekend to get the City moving again. Residents can help us by staying off the roads as much as possible so that our plows and salt spreaders can get through safely,” said New York City Department of Sanitation Commissioner Edward Grayson.  

 

The City’s Sanitation Department has issued a “snow alert” beginning on Friday, January 28, at 4 p.m. The Sanitation Department is pre-deploying over 700 salt spreaders to pretreat roadways ahead of the first snowflake and is prepared to dispatch plows in all sectors when more than 2 inches of snow accumulates.    

 

Safety Tips 

 

· Stay off the roads as much as possible. If you must travel, use mass transit. 

·  If you must drive, drive slowly. Allow for extra travel time, and exercise caution when traveling. Use major streets or highways for travel whenever possible.  

· 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 an older adult. Seniors should take extra care outdoors to avoid slips and falls. 

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

· If you have to go outdoors, wear dry, warm clothing and cover exposed skin. Keep fingertips, earlobes, and noses covered. Wear a hat, hood, scarf, and gloves. Stay alert for signs of hypothermia, like intense shivering or dizziness, and anyone who experiences these symptoms should seek medical attention or call 911. 

· Be careful when shoveling snow. Follow your doctor’s advice if you have heart disease or high blood pressure. Cold weather puts an extra strain on the heart.  

· Check on family, friends and neighbors who may need help in cold weather — especially older adults or people with disabilities — to make sure they are safe inside and have heat. 

· Immediately tell your building superintendent, property manager or owner if you do not have heat. Call 311 if the problem is not fixed quickly and go to a warm place, such as a friend’s or family member’s home. If you stay at home, wear additional layers of clothing to keep warm. 

· Improper use of portable heating equipment can lead to fire or dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. Take precautions to ensure you are heating your home safely. Do not heat your home with a gas stove or oven, charcoal grill, or kerosene, propane, or oil-burning heaters. 

· Always keep an eye on heating equipment. Never leave children alone in the room where a space heater is running. Turn it off when you are unable to closely monitor it.

· Be careful not to overload electrical circuits.

 

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.