Forecasters say that the winter storm heading New York City’s way won’t be a huge snow producer — but needless to say, it’ll be a mess to get around Monday.
As of Sunday morning, the National Weather Service predicted anywhere from 1 to 3 inches of the white stuff for the New York City area. The precipitation will start out as rain Monday before changing over to snow late in the afternoon, thus tamping down the expected accumulation. Temperatures will peak at around 38 degree early, then fall throughout the day.
A light wintry mix of rain, sleet and snow made for a slippery Sunday across the city.
The brunt of this storm will be felt in the northern suburbs and New Jersey. Forecasters are predicting up to a foot of snow in the Lower Hudson Valley, interior northeastern New Jersey and interior southwestern Connecticut.
Nevertheless, with visions of past sudden snowfalls still dancing in their heads, the city’s taking every precaution to keep the roads clear. The Mayor’s office noted that the Sanitation Department has dispatched salt spreaders across the city.
The city’s Department of Transportation has suspended alternate-side parking rules for Monday, Dec. 2, to allow for snow removal operations. Parking meter rules, however, will remain in effect.
All subways and buses will run on a normal schedule Monday, but the MTA Command Center will be monitoring conditions citywide. They’ve activated third-rail and switch heaters to prevent icing conditions. Crews will also be sanding and spreading salt across outdoor platforms and stairs.
The MTA has also equipped 700 articulated buses running in Manhattan and the Bronx — where the highest snow totals are predicted to occur — with snow chains.
Once the storm clears, however, the rest of the week’s looking pretty good for New York City. The National Weather Service forecasts cloudy skies but dry conditions Tuesday and Wednesday, then a sunny end to the work week Thursday and Friday. It’ll be chilly, though; temperatures won’t get above the 40s all week.
