Nor’easter Bursts into NYC, Cancelling Schools, Flights, and Nonessential Travel

    A raging nor’easter burst into New York City last night, when seven inches of snow fell before the sun came up. Snowfall is expected to increase today, at a rate of two to four inches per hour, which Mayor Bill de Blasio called “blinding snow.”

     The majority of the snow will fall today before 7pm, by which time up to 18 inches of snow are expected to blanket New York City.

      The bitter cold temperatures will be exacerbated by the wind chill, which will bring gusts of wind of up to 50 mph at their peak. 

      Mayor de Blasio has closed the city’s public schools today and tomorrow, and many yeshivas are closed today, as well.  

  Most flights in and out of New York City are cancelled, and the mayor has asked all New Yorkers who can work at home today to do so.

   Mayor de Blasio warned that today’s heavy snowfall had made travel dangerous in every neighborhood in the city. Try to stay home, the mayor said, but anyone who must drive should use extreme caution. 

 Even New Yorkers who are out walking today should use extreme caution said, Deanne Criswell, NYC’s commissioner of Emergency Management.

   “Conditions are extremely hazardous,” Commissioner Criswell said.

    “If you can stay home, stay home,” said the mayor, who added that only people who have emergencies and workers, such as healthcare workers, homecare workers, and police officers, who absolute must leave their homes to go to work are exempt from the mayor’s restrictions.  “Stay inside if there is any way you can avoid travelling. This is the real thing.

    “Stay off the roads, not just me giving advice. I signed an executive order last night. Stay off the roads, except for essential travel.”

     Alternate Side Parking also has been cancelled until Shabbos, and the Open Restaurants program is closed until tomorrow night, and today's vaccination appointments are cancelled as well.

    “It is so important to stay off the streets,” the mayor said. “Emergency vehicles and ambulances will be out there, and we are trying to clear the streets.”

    “It is a tough storm,” say Sanitation Commissioner Ed Grayson. “We just need time to do our jobs”