Snow blankets NYC, storm dumps several inches on parts of NJ, NY
NEW YORK CITY - A major winter storm dumped snow across the NYC area – disrupting travel along the Interstate 95 corridor – and leaving several inches on the ground.
Skies have cleared in NYC, and Winter Storm Warnings are canceled west of the city and in the Big Apple itself.
A child plays in the snow in Central Park on Feb. 13, 2024. (Robert Moses/FOX 5 NY)
Earlier Tuesday morning, forecasters had warned snowfall rates in New York City could approach 1 to 2 inches per hour through the Tuesday morning commute.
That heavier area of snowfall exited the region and shifted the high snowfall rates into eastern Long Island, and that was expected to continue through the afternoon hours.
(Robert Moses/FOX 5 NY)
Officials warned drivers to stay off the roads. flights were canceled and some communities saw power outages.
Here's the live updates you need to know about Tuesday's storm:
Totals: How much snow has fallen?
Click HERE to find out how much snow your area has recorded so far, according to the National Weather Service.
NYC travel advisory
NY roads closed
- Click HERE to track road closures in real time on 511NY.
NJ roads closed
- Click HERE to track road closures in real time on 511NJ.
CT roads closed
NYC train delays
- Click HERE to track train delays.
Screenshot shows the "request cannot be processed at this time" message shown to users trying to login to the NYC public schools remote learning services.
NYC remote learning
Ahead of the storm, NYC public schools shifted to remote learning for the day, but are experiencing technical issues with services that require IBM authentication to login. When teachers tried to take attendance Tuesday morning, they received an IBM alert saying that their request could not be processed.
Adams said, "This is the right thing to do and this is a great teaching moment for our children," noting that the days of staying home and making snowmen were over.
In a post on X, NYC Public Schools said that students were experiencing problems with services that require IBM authentication to login.
(Photo by Robyn BECK / AFP) (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
Flight cancelations
More than 1,200 flights were cancelled before noon, mostly along the East Coast, but that is likely to spread west as the day goes on.
New York City has issued a travel advisory through Tuesday, and officials are urging New Yorkers to stay off the roads.
"If you do not have to be on the roads tomorrow, please stay home, and, if you’re a property owner, remember to clear your sidewalks," NYC Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement.
Was there a blizzard in NYC?
Although Metro and suburban NY, NJ, and CT will likely see 6 to 8+ inches of snow Tuesday, the storm has not reached blizzard conditions.
The National Weather Service defines a blizzard as a storm with large amounts of snow OR blowing snow, with winds above 35 mph and visibilities of less than 1/4 mile for at least 3 hours.
Driving can be especially dangerous or even impossible due to low visibility and slippery roads.
The combination of strong winds and cold temperatures combined to make it even more difficult.
Mid-winter weather outlook: ‘6 more weeks’ of winter
FOX 5 NY’s Nick Gregory said the NYC area has the potential for at least another 15 inches, according to his mid-winter forecast.
Only one or two decent storms will help us reach this projected total, and Nick forecasts that February will provide the perfect conditions for winter storm development.
The U.S. is experiencing a strong El Niño, meaning the Tri-State is more likely to see warmer-than-average temperatures and wetter-than-average precipitation.
As we move forward, strong El Niño conditions will continue, meaning February will feature the same type of weather we've seen: above-average temperatures and borderline rain-snow events.
"I think winter will be prolonged here, and I do think that we'll probably have a good surge of cold weather coming in the middle part of February, [creating the potential for a snow storm or two," Nick said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.