It wasn’t a storm to shut down the city, but most corners of the five boroughs saw steady snowfall overnight, creating a slippery, slushy commute for Tuesday morning.
The National Weather Service said all boroughs saw at least some accumulation, with the greatest being 5.6 inches in the Bronx. Southern Queens saw the least with 1.5 inches measured at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
The rest of the city saw varying measurements with between 1 and 3 inches.
The worst of the storm passed by 3 a.m., and a mix of snow and rain is expected through Tuesday morning – meaning travelers should prepare for a slow, slippery commute.
By 7 a.m., temperatures are expected to rise into the high 30s, where they will stay for the remainder of the day.
Traffic and transit impacts
City agencies geared up Monday in anticipation of the city’s first substantial snowfall of the season, advising New Yorkers of how services will be impacted.
The city suspended alternate side parking on Tuesday. Drivers will still have to pay at parking meters, the Department of Transportation said in a statement.
New York City Emergency Management issued a travel advisory beginning Monday at 6 p.m. and ending at 1 p.m. Tuesday.
“We encourage all New Yorkers to use mass transit, allow for extra travel time, and exercise caution tonight into tomorrow morning’s commute,” NYCEM Commissioner Zach Iscol said in a statement.
Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who oversees the treatment and clearing of most city streets, also encouraged New Yorkers to stay off the road in a statement. Her department deployed 700 salt spreaders before the snow began falling Monday and has 2,000 “plowable vehicles” at its call to clear car and bike lanes.
No trash or recycling collection delays are expected and residents should maintain the normal schedule, officials said.
The MTA said in a statement the underground portions of the subway system will be unaffected by the storm, but there are 220 miles of outdoor tracks that may be. To combat snow and ice, the MTA has a fleet of trains specially designed to clear tracks and spray third rails with deicing fuel.
Bus service could change depending on road conditions, the MTA warned. But tire chains will be placed on articulated buses in time for Tuesday morning.
The transit authority also said they would have workers on standby across the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North commuter lines to spread salt and clear tracks. But they warned riders they should allocate extra travel time and use the MTA’s TrainTime app for updates throughout Monday evening and into Tuesday morning.
LIRR customers can live chat with customer service agents from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. through the TrainTime app.
The MTA-operated bridges and tunnels will continue to operate without restrictions, officials said. The agency has 115 “pieces of storm fighting equipment” and over 9,600 tons of deicer at its disposal.