All Non-Essential State Employees in Blizzard Warning Areas Directed To Stay Home and Work Remotely on Monday
State of Emergency Declared as of Saturday for Albany, Bronx, Columbia, Greene, Delaware, Dutchess, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Otsego, Putnam, Queens, Rensselaer, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Schenectady, Schoharie, Sullivan, Ulster, Westchester and Contiguous Counties
Blizzard Warning Expanded To Include Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Dutchess and Ulster Counties; Previously Issued for Long Island, New York City and Southern Westchester County; Winter Storm Watches Issued for Parts of the Capital Region and Mohawk Valley
18-24 Inches of Snow Forecast for Long Island and New York City; 12-18 Inches Forecast for the Hudson Valley; 8-12 Inches Forecast for the Capital Region; Widespread 1-6 Inches Forecast for Rest of State
Beginning 4 p.m. Today, Empty and Tandem Tractor Trailers Banned on I-84 and All Roads South of I-84; Other Commercial Vehicles Restricted to Right Lane Only
Motorists Should Monitor and Follow Local Travel Bans Currently in Place
Wind Gusts Have Potential To Reach 65 MPH, Which Could Lead to Whiteout or Even Blizzard-Like Conditions Making Travel Dangerous, Especially in New York City and on Long Island
Governor Activates 100 Members of the National Guard To Support Response Operations and Local Partners Across New York City, Long Island and the Lower Hudson Valley
Long Island Rail Road Service To Be Suspended Starting at 1 a.m. Monday
Strong Winds Paired With Wet, Heavy Snow Could Also Lead to Power Outages
More Than 6,000 Utility Workers on Standby Across the State To Engage in Damage Assessment, Response, Repair and Restoration Efforts
New Yorkers Throughout Long Island, New York City and the Hudson Valley Should Avoid Travel Sunday Through Monday and Stay Home; Employers Encouraged To Allow for Remote Work
New Yorkers Can Sign Up for Weather and Emergency Alerts by Texting 333111
Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on ongoing State preparedness efforts ahead of a severe winter storm set to impact the state and directed all non-essential employees to telecommute on Monday. Yesterday, Governor Hochul declared a State of Emergency in Albany, Bronx, Columbia, Greene, Delaware, Dutchess, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Otsego, Putnam, Queens, Rensselaer, Richmond, Rockland, Schenectady, Schoharie, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster, Westchester and contiguous counties, and activated the New York National Guard as a blizzard is forecast to hit the lower Hudson Valley, New York City and Long Island, and severe winter weather conditions are expected throughout the rest of the Hudson Valley.
Forecasts now indicate 18 to 24 inches of snow with winds potentially gusting at more than 65 mph on Long Island and in New York City. The Hudson Valley is forecast to see 12 to 18 inches of snow, while the Capital Region could see 8 to 12 inches. Other areas statewide will see totals from one to six inches of snow. These blizzard conditions will create extremely dangerous travel conditions, coastal flooding and the potential for power outages.
Beginning Sunday, 100 members of the New York National Guard with 25 vehicles will be staged across the lower Hudson Valley, New York City and Long Island to support Downstate response operations and local partners. Additionally, the State Emergency Operations Center was activated Sunday morning.
Severe winter weather conditions have shifted northward overnight, leading to upgraded warnings and watches across the southeastern part of the state. Blizzard Warnings are in effect for Westchester, New York, Bronx, Richmond, Kings, Queens, Suffolk, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Dutchess and Ulster Counties. Winter Storm Warnings are in effect for Greene, Schoharie, Schenectady, Albany, Rensselaer, Otsego, Delaware and Sullivan Counties. A Winter Storm Watch is also in effect for Chautauqua County.
New Yorkers should take this storm seriously, prepare now, monitor local forecasts and stay home throughout the duration of the storm. Governor Hochul directed all non-essential State employees who live or work in counties with an active Blizzard Warning to stay home on Monday and work remotely, where feasible. Private employers are also strongly encouraged to allow employees to work remotely on Monday.
Long Island Rail Road service will be suspended effective 1 a.m. Monday, with the suspension expected to last through the morning rush. Metro-North Railroad will run hourly service on the Harlem, Hudson, and New Haven lines and weekend service on the Connecticut and Wassaic branches. Subway service changes and delays are expected overnight Sunday into Monday, as express tracks are used to store trains underground during heavy snowfall. MTA paratransit services will be suspended starting at 9 p.m. tonight. MTA bus service will continue to run, but road conditions may impact service.
All empty commercial vehicles and all tandem tractor trailers will be banned from travel on I-84 and all roads south of I-84, including all Thruway system roads. All other commercial vehicles will be restricted to the right lane on I-84 and all roadways south of I-84, including all Thruway system roads in Orange, Rockland, and Westchester counties. These restrictions will begin at 4 p.m. today and end when conditions allow.
New Yorkers should also ensure that government emergency alerts are enabled on their mobile phones, and register for real-time weather and emergency alerts by texting their county or borough name to 333111.
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