Hunker down!
City preps for snow ‘bomb,’ shuts schools
MAYOR DE BLASIO ordered city schools closed Thursday as New Yorkers braced for a “bomb cyclone” of snow and wind that threatens to dump up to 8 inches of powder on the Big Apple.
The powerful nor’easter roaring up the East Coast was expected to strike about 1 a.m. Thursday, lashing the city with heavy, blowing snow and powerful wind gusts.
Blizzard conditions will likely carry through to Thursday evening, according to the National Weather Service.
Forecasters expect total snow accumulations of 5 to 8 inches in the five boroughs — and up to 10 inches in parts of eastern Queens and Nassau County.
“We are going to have blizzardlike conditions in the morning in New York City,” de Blasio said.
“Everyone has to take this seriously, whether you are driving, whether you are walking. These are going to be tough conditions to move around in.”
CUNY also announced it would be closed. Charter and private schools will make individual decisions about whether to hold class.
Many suburban schools also decided to close Thursday.
The Department of Education said city public schools will reopen Friday.
LaGuardia Airport announced more than 90% of its flights were canceled. At Newark’s Liberty International Airport 70% of flights were canceled. At Kennedy Airport 20% were canceled.
All U.S. Southern District federal courthouses are closed.
The weather service upgraded the city from a winter storm watch to a warning Wednesday afternoon as the blizzard’s track came into clearer focus.
Forecasters said the system will likely undergo a process called “bombogenesis,” in which a rapid deepening of pressure creates an explosive strengthening of the storm.
The storms, also known as “bomb cyclones,” generate powerful winds along with drenching rains in spring and blizzard conditions in winter.
Though they have a frightening name, the systems are not especially rare. They typically form along the East Coast a couple of times a year, said weather service meteorologist Faye Morrone.
Temperatures are predicted to hover in the mid-20s on Thursday, and the fierce winds will likely cause hazardous conditions.
“Winds gusting as high as 50 mph will cause areas of blowing and drifting snow,” the National Weather Service said.
“Plan on difficult travel conditions, including during the morning and evening commutes on Thursday. Tree branches could fall as well.”
Forecasters expert Friday to bring sunny skies and bone-chilling temperatures with a high of 13 degrees and a low of 2.
The arctic temperatures will likely remain until Sunday when the high is expected to reach a relatively balmy 22 degrees.
In advance of the storm, the city Sanitation Department deployed 693 salt spreaders. Some 1,500 plows were to be dispatched.
“We will be salting as soon as we see flakes,” Sanitation Department Commissioner Kathryn Garcia said.
“From the front line all the way up the ranks, we’ve been planning, we’ve been training and I think (the workers) are very gung-ho to fight this weather.”