New Jersey, Hudson Valley bear brunt of snowstorm
NEW YORK (FOX5NY) - Just days after a major storm, another nor'easter hammered the greater New York metro area Wednesday. The heavy, wet snow caused problems on roads, at airports, and on railroads and also triggered more power outages in communities still recovering from the last storm.
The expected 8 to 12 inches of snow in New York City did not materialize. However, the storm walloped areas north and west of the city. Central Park in Manhattan saw about 3.5 inches of snow, whereas parts of New Jersey and New York's Hudson Valley reported 20 or more inches of snow.
New Jersey was under a state of emergency.
Lightning struck a teacher in southern New Jersey while she was outside on bus duty. She is expected to recover.
More than 1,800 flights were canceled at LaGuardia Airport, John F. Kennedy Airport, and Newark-Liberty International Airport by Wednesday afternoon.
The worst of the storm hit northwest New Jersey, Connecticut, and suburban New York where the precipitation was all snow. A sleet and rain mix held down the totals in New York City and along the coast.
"The hardest hit area, unfortunately, will be the Hudson Valley. We have a state of emergency that will remain for the four Hudson Valley counties that are currently under emergency," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday, referring to Sullivan, Dutchess, Westchester, and Putnam counties. "As New York City is going to get hit heavily, that obviously impacts the MTA, the subways and the airports, which we expect to see delays."
Many people in those areas were already without power from the last storm.
Forecasters warned to expect difficult travel conditions, fallen trees on train tracks and roads, and snow and ice the morning after the storm.
The New York City Department of Transportation said that Alternate Side Parking regulations are suspended on Wednesday and Thursday to facilitate snow removal. Parking meter rules will remain in effect.
New York City public schools were kept open Wednesday and Thursday.
Thousands of people in New York and New Jersey were still waiting to have power restored from last week's storm. And to make matters worse, a weather pattern has developed where the area could see a series of further storms. Long range forecasts already so another storm could hit the area by Monday.
"I'm going to direct to do a full review of how the utility companies handled the situation. I'm not satisfied. I think it's unacceptable," Cuomo said. "These storms have now become the rule rather than the exception and they have to have the capacity to quickly restore power."
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