New York Snow Today: Residents React to First Major Snowfall

This week, a new coast-to-coast winter storm is expected to wallop California, the Midwest, and the northeastern United States.

Areas of the Northeast may experience up to 8in (20cm) of snow, the National Weather Service (NWS) predicted, with New York City getting 2-6in. On the opposite side of the nation, mountainous regions in California are expected to bring further significant snowfall.

New York Snow Today

Monday evening's snowfall is predicted to transition into sleet and rain by Tuesday morning. New Yorkers were advised to take public transportation wherever feasible and to allow additional trip time.

The storm in late February is the heaviest of the season in New York City. Like most of the Northeast, New Yorkers have experienced an extraordinarily mild winter thus far. According to BBC, many school districts in the city declared that they would be closed on Tuesday due to inclement weather.

This winter storm follows tornadoes and strong winds that pounded the central United States on Sunday and Monday in states such as Oklahoma, Missouri, and Texas, prompting citizens to seek shelter.

According to data from PowerOutage.us, as of Tuesday morning, more than 237,000 individuals in the United States were without power, and traffic was disrupted across the country.

The Big Apple awoke on Tuesday to a new blanket of snow following a warm winter in which the city received less than an inch of snowfall. About seven inches of precipitation fell in New York City overnight, with greater amounts reported north of Manhattan. The most persistent band of snow moved out of the region soon before daybreak on Tuesday, resulting in a chaotic commute and school delays.

Snow and rain showers are forecast to persist periodically until the early afternoon, but the lingering precipitation will be light, and the accumulation of snow will be minimal. NBC New York reported that temperatures would return to near 60 degrees Fahrenheit before dropping by double digits on Friday.

Over the weekend, the city might get another snowfall, with greater accumulations forecast to the north and west of New York City. The city is only predicted to get precipitation if the thermometer remains above freezing. Ahead of the storm, New York City Mayor Eric Adams reassured citizens, "We haven't seen snow this year, but we're ready for it."

The winter storm warning also included Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Rhode Island in the Northeast, with heavy snow predicted until Tuesday afternoon. According to the National Weather Service, Boston might get five inches of snow and a sloppy Tuesday morning commute.

The residents in the impacted regions are advised about hazardous driving conditions and asked to exercise extreme caution. When the National Weather Service warned of potential infrastructure delays, New York airports canceled scores of flights.

Ned Lamont, the governor of neighboring Connecticut, closed all state facilities and advised residents to avoid the roads if possible. On the opposite side of the nation, the Sierra Nevada range issued blizzard warnings on Monday as yet another bout of rain and snow pushed into California and Nevada.

The NWS in Reno issued an avalanche warning for the wilderness surrounding Lake Tahoe, where up to six feet of snow was forecast in the top elevations over the next two days, and gale-force winds may cause waves up to five feet high on the lake. Due to the extreme weather, state offices across northern Nevada, including the Nevada Legislature in Carson City, were closed.

New Yorkers React

Midmorning, the snow changed to sleet in Westchester County, rapidly melting any accumulation. Several individuals have expressed the hope that the first storm of the season will be the only storm. Per CBS News, the snow-covered trees reminded us of the splendor of winter. It was a breathtaking sight, yet many awoke complaining that they could have done without it.

Families and towns dusted up their snow blowers for the first time in a long time to remove the wintry mix that began falling Monday evening. Up to six inches of snow piled in Westchester County, creating hazardous conditions. When night turned to day, though, plows and neighbors with shovels began to get the upper hand.

Even the youngsters of White Plains, who discovered late in the morning that their two-hour delay had become an actual snow day, were not impressed. Nonetheless, they made the best of it by sledding in the backyard. The only ones who appeared to enjoy the beauty were the dogs, who wore winter jackets that made them look "snow" adorable. Officials advise individuals to take their time when shoveling wet, heavy snow.

Tags

New York, Winter storm