Governor Cuomo today ordered state agencies to prepare emergency response resources ahead of a major forecast of the winter climate system to impact much of the state with heavy snow, cold temperatures and ice in many areas. The storm system is expected to start on Monday morning and continue until Tuesday night. Most of the state’s locations are expected to receive 6 to 12 inch snow accumulations, while some areas may be affected by a mixture of hail and ice up to 1/5 inch. Travel conditions can be extremely difficult at times, especially late in the evening from Monday to Tuesday morning, when the heaviest snow can combine with gusts of wind and rapidly decreasing temperatures.
“Forecasts point to New York experiencing another round of winter weather earlier this week and state agencies have already started preparing assets and personnel for a response,” Governor Cuomo said. “Not only can some areas of the state see up to a foot of snow, but this storm is also expected to bring ice and a winter mix to areas in the interior of the state, creating the potential for some very dangerous travel conditions. New Yorkers should take the time now to prepare their families for this storm and pay close attention to local weather forecasts. “
For western and central New York, Finger Lakes, Mohawk Valley, North Country, Capital Region, areas north of Mid-Hudson and Southern Tier, snow is forecast to fall in several rounds, with most locations featuring light snow or a mixture of hail and snow during the day on Monday with a change to stronger snow on Monday night to Tuesday morning. Snow accumulation until Tuesday should vary from 7 to 15 cm, with some locations reaching 30 cm of snow. Inland areas of the state may see a mixture of hail and / or ice, with accumulations of up to 1/10 inch. For the North Country, moderate heavy snow is possible from Monday night to Tuesday morning, with snow accumulations exceeding 30 centimeters in some places.
For New York City, Long Island and the Mid-Hudson region, a winter mix of freezing rain and / or hail will begin on Monday night. To the north of the city, temperatures are expected to remain in the mid-1920s, which can result in up to 1/5 inch of ice in portions of the Lower Hudson Valley. Temperatures in New York City will rise to 30 degrees on Tuesday, turning precipitation into rain.
Meteorologists are monitoring another generalized precipitation event for Thursday and Friday that could bring even more snow, hail, freezing rain and rain to the state.
Weather clocks have been issued for various parts of the state. For a complete list of weather alerts and warnings in your area, visit the National Weather Service website for your area.
Agency preparations
Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services
The New York State Homeland Security and Emergency Services Division’s Emergency Operations Center remains active due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will closely monitor weather conditions, coordinate state response operations and remain in contact with localities throughout the event. State stocks are prepared to deploy assets in the locations to support any needs related to storms, including pumps, chainsaws, sandbags, generators, cribs, blankets and bottled water.
Department of Transportation
The Transportation Department is prepared to serve more than 3,600 operators and supervisors, in addition to the following assets:
- 1,612 great snow clearers
- 313 large chargers
- 175 medium service plows
- 80 mincers
- 73 wheel and crawler excavators
- 52 trailer plows
- 37 snow blowers
- 36 traffic tower platforms
- 18 students
- 14 tree crew bucket trucks
- 11 pickup trucks with plows
Thruway Authority
The Thruway Authority has 691 operators and supervisors ready to respond with 248 large snow cleaners, 102 medium snow cleaners, 11 tow plows and 61 loaders across the state, with more than 109,000 tons of road salt on hand.
Variable message signs and social media are used to alert drivers of winter weather conditions on the expressway. The Thruway Authority encourages drivers to download its mobile application, which is available for free on iPhone and Android devices. The application provides drivers with direct access to real-time traffic and assistance with navigation in transit. Drivers can also sign up to receive TRANSalert emails, which provide the latest traffic conditions along the way here.
Department of Environmental Conservation
DEC Environmental Conservation Police officers, Forest Guards, Emergency Management staff and regional staff are on alert and monitoring the developing situation and actively patrolling areas and infrastructure that are likely to be affected by the severe weather. All available assets are positioned to assist with any emergency response.
Parks, Recreation and Historical Preservation Office
New York State Park police and park staff are on alert and closely monitoring the conditions and impacts of the weather. Park visitors should check parks.ny.gov or call the park’s local offices to get the latest updates on park times, openings and closings.
Department of Public Service
New York power utilities have approximately 5,500 workers available to conduct damage assessments, response and restoration efforts across the state of New York. The Public Services Department staff will monitor the work of the concessionaires during the storm and ensure that the concessionaires transfer the appropriate team to the regions that are likely to be most impacted.
New York Power Authority / Canal Corporation
The New York Power Authority and Canal Corporation staff have made preparations for the weather forecast to ensure that all facilities, assets and equipment are protected and ready. The Energy Authority is prepared to support energy restoration activities, if necessary.
New York State Police
The State Police is prepared to send additional soldiers as needed to the affected areas. All State Police specialized vehicles, including four-wheel drive vehicles, snow vehicles and utility vehicles for tasks, are prepared and ready for an immediate response. All communication equipment and emergency power for the troops were tested.
Metropolitan Transport Authority
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is closely monitoring weather conditions to ensure safe and reliable service. MTA employees will be prepared to spread salt and clean platforms and ladders from snow and ice, keep signals, switches and third parties in operation. Customers are encouraged to check new.mta.info for the latest service updates and to be careful when browsing the system. Customers must also sign up for real-time service alerts via text or email. These alerts are also available through the MTA apps: MYmta, Metro-North Train Time and Long Island Rail Road Train Time.
Port Authority
The Port Authority is prepared for the storm and recommends that travelers using all its facilities be careful. Speed restrictions may be in effect on bridges, as well as along roads to and from intersections. Passengers passing through the Port Authority’s airports, bus terminal and bus terminal are encouraged to contact carriers and airlines directly for the latest information on delays, cancellations or new reservations. For the latest information on the Port Authority’s facilities, check the social networks, sign up for PA alerts or download one of the PA’s mobile apps.
Safety Tips
Winter security
Some of the most important tips for safe driving include:
- When winter storms occur, do not drive unless necessary.
- Be careful on bridges, as ice can form more quickly than on roads.
- If you need to travel, make sure your car is stocked with survival equipment such as blankets, a shovel, flashlight and extra batteries, extra warm clothing, set of tire chains, battery backup cables, fast energy foods and a brightly colored cloth to use as anguish flag.
- If you have a cell phone or other communication device, such as a two-way radio, available for use, keep the battery charged and take it with you whenever you travel. If you get stuck, you can call for help by notifying the rescue team of your location.
The main cause of death and injury during winter storms is transport accidents. Before sitting behind the wheel, make sure your vehicle is free of ice and snow; good vision is the key to good direction. Plan your stops and keep more distance between cars. Be extremely alert and remember that blizzards can hide younger children. Always match your speed to the road and weather conditions.
It is important for drivers on all roads to note that snow plows travel at speeds of up to 35 mph, which in many cases is below the published speed limit, to ensure that the salt being dispersed remains in the lanes and is not spread it off the roads. Often, on interstate highways, snowplows operate side by side, as this is the most efficient and safest way to clear multiple lanes at the same time.
Drivers and pedestrians should also keep in mind that snow clearer drivers have limited lines of sight and the size and weight of snow clearers can make it very difficult to maneuver and stop quickly. Snow blown behind the plow can dramatically reduce visibility or cause white conditions. Drivers should not attempt to overtake snowplows or follow them closely. The safest place for drivers to drive is right behind the snowblowers, where the road is clean and salty.