Additional Coverage:
- New Yorkers ordered ‘stay home’ in Storm Fern as 2,000 garbage trucks transformed into snow plows (themirror.com)
New York City Braces for Major Snowfall: Residents Urged to Stay Home as Plows and Salt Spreaders Prepare
New York City is gearing up for what could be its most significant snowstorm in years, with forecasts predicting 8 to 12 inches of snow to blanket the region. As the major winter storm makes its way across the Northeast, city officials are urging residents to stay home and off the roads.
The New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) has issued a snow alert for Sunday, transforming thousands of garbage trucks into snowplows in preparation. A total of 2,000 collection trucks are ready to begin clearing snow once two inches have fallen.
Preparations have been underway since Friday, with brine trucks deployed and over 700 salt spreaders filled and strategically placed to begin operations at the first sign of snow. DSNY also confirmed that bike lane plows are prepared to service critical commuter routes.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani emphasized the importance of staying indoors. “Our city is about to be hit by a whole lot of snow, and I want New Yorkers to be prepared for the storm that’s coming,” Mayor Mamdani stated on Friday. He encouraged New Yorkers to “sit still and stay home,” suggesting activities like board games, cooking, or binge-watching television to stay out of the elements during what is expected to be a “slippery and cold weekend.”
Meteorologist Bill Goodman of the National Weather Service noted the potential for this to be the worst storm in several years, highlighting that the city has experienced relatively low snowfall in recent years. The last time Central Park recorded over a foot of snow from a single storm was in 2021.
Across the US, over 40% of the population is under winter storm warnings this weekend. Forecasters warn that potential damage, particularly in areas affected by ice, could be comparable to that caused by a hurricane.