A winter storm brought snow, sleet and rain to New York City on Wednesday.
Snow started falling in midtown around 11:30 a.m., more than an hour earlier than initially predicted. A winter weather advisory was issued by the National Weather Service through 1 a.m. Thursday.
About 2 inches of snow and ice could accumulate by the end of the storm, the National Weather Service said. The precipitation was expected to switch over to a mix of snow, sleet and rain, and become all rain around 11 p.m., as temperatures begin to rise above freezing.
"We’re concerned about ice and travel problems Wednesday night," weather service meteorologist Tim Morrin said.
New Yorkers and city officials shared Morrin’s concerns. The city Emergency Management Department issued a travel advisory and alternate-side parking was suspended for Thursday.
"Please exercise extra caution during your evening commute and consider taking mass transit, if you can," Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted Wednesday afternoon.
Outside Macy’s in Herald Square, Nilufer Can said she was excited about the snow but a little worried about her commute back to Brooklyn.
"Maybe it won’t accumulate so we don’t have to deal with the aftermath. I’m definitely leaving work early," Can, 26, said.
Joshua Gutierrez, 20, was manning the Wafels and Dinges stand during the afternoon lunch rush when snow began to fall in earnest. The stand is not enclosed in the front, where he takes orders.
"I like snow when I’m not outside but when I’m here at work I have to fight with it," he said, adding that he wasn’t looking forward to his commute home either.
Area airports were also affected by the storm. Both LaGuardia and Kennedy airports reported delays and cancellations, and urged travelers to check their flight status before heading out.
The storm was expected to move out of the area by Thursday morning. The sun will make an appearance late Thursday afternoon and temperatures will rise into the low 50s, the weather service said.
Friday will be mostly sunny, with a high near 46 degrees, but there’s another chance for rain on Saturday and Sunday.
