4th March nor'easter dumps snow on NY area
NEW YORK (FOX5NY) - A springtime snowstorm hit the New York region Wednesday into Thursday.
New York City public schools will be open on Thursday after staying closed Wednesday. All related programs will go on as scheduled. Suburbs, especially in New Jersey, had delayed openings or remained closed.
Accumulation of 12 inches, with localized amounts higher, was estimated in portions of northeast New Jersey, southern Connecticut and southeast New York, including Long Island.
After dusk Wednesday, the falling snow began to stick to the roads. New York City sanitation crews continued to work late Wednesday night to keep streets clear for the morning commute.
MTA workers were busy clearing snow and ice from platforms. Many subway lines were running locally so that trains could be stored underground on the express lines.
"Additional snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches are expected in portions of northeast New Jersey, southern Connecticut and southeast New York," the NWS said in a bulletin. "Plan on difficult travel conditions. Expect significant reductions in visibility at times."
New Jersey was under a state of emergency on Wednesday. Commercial vehicles were banned from highways until midnight, standing many truckers and their cargo at rest stops for hours.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency in New York City, Putnam County, Rockland County, Westchester County, Nassau County, and Suffolk County. The state deployed 300 National Guard members throughout the region before the storm.
We have hundreds of pieces of equipment that have been sent down. Large plows, spreaders, medium-sized plows," Cuomo said. "We have emergency equipment pre-deployed, generators, water, meals, et cetera and we have 5,500 utility workers who are currently deployed."
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New York City's Alternate Side Parking Regulations are suspended on Thursday to facilitate snow removal. Payment at parking meters is in effect throughout the city.