Snowpocalypse Predicted, NYC Bears Down

Via Accuweather

Last weekend's snow storm missed us, but meteorologists say the NYC region will get walloped tomorrow with a big snowfall, prompting city officials to call it a snow day in advance. AccuWeather says, "The nor'easter is destined to be the biggest storm of the new year so far for New York City to Boston. Unlike the last storm, this one will 'not' miss these areas... The blowing snow will create near-zero visibility at times."

The Department of Sanitation is on stand-by and even the USPS sent out a notice saying that pick-up of mail would conclude by noon in all five boroughs! As for accumulation, one guess is that NYC could see between eight and 14 inches; WCBS 2's John Elliott said, "The six to ten inches in the Big Apple could easily be 10 to 18 inches in parts of the Garden State... It's going to be a big deal. It's going to be an all day thing. You'll be able to get here just fine, if you head out early enough, but the problem will be getting home."

Speaking of getting around, the MTA wants customers to check the MTA.info website for the latest information as its various divisions work to prepare for the storm. Here are details from the MTA's press release:

Tomorrow morning, rush-hour service on subways and buses, the Long Island Rail Road, and bridges and tunnels is expected to remain normal. Metro-North Railroad will operate on a reduced schedule, with about 70% of inbound morning rush-hour trains running. As the day progresses, service on Metro-North and the Long Island Rail Road will differ from a normal weekday schedule, with more trains being added between noon and 4 p.m., and fewer trains operating during the usual height of the evening rush hour. Customers should visit MTA.info to find schedules for tomorrow’s trains.

Subway service should remain on or close to regular service levels during rush hours and middays, but delays and disruptions are possible as snow accumulates on tracks and streets, and express subway service may be reduced or eliminated on some routes during evening and overnight hours as underground express tracks are put to use for train storage.

The steps that the MTA agencies will take to ensure continued operations throughout and immediately after the storm include the following:

· MTA New York City Transit, MTA Long Island Rail Road and MTA Metro-North Railroad maintain fleets of snow and ice-busting equipment designed to keep outdoor tracks, third rails and overhead wires clear of snow and ice. The fleet includes super-powered snow throwers, jet-powered snow-blowers, de-icing cars, and pilot trains equipped with plows, all designed to keep service moving. This equipment provides the ability to run trains more often, which also serves as a way to keep tracks clear of snow.

· MTA New York City Transit protects its subway trains from snow, ice and sub-freezing temperatures by moving them from outside yards into storage on the express tracks in tunnels. This causes a reduction of express service during evenings and overnight hours, with more limited impact during middays and rush-hours.

· Track switches will be treated with anti-freeze, and switch heaters will be turned on during the storm to keep switches moving freely so we can continue to route trains from one track to another.

· Crews will shovel and salt outdoor platforms and steps at all subway and commuter rail stations.

· MTA Bridges and Tunnels has 7,000 tons of deicer available to be applied at roadways and toll plazas at its seven bridges and two tunnels, plus nearly 100 pieces of snow-removal equipment including plows that will be deployed as needed.

· MTA New York City Transit will deploy 31 salt-spreading trucks along its highest priority bus routes beginning this evening, particularly those with hills.

· The MTA’s bus operations will place chains on the tires of 700 to 800 buses to ensure they have better traction in snow, slush and ice. The first buses to receive those chains are those that operate on overnight routes.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on February 9, 2010 5:25 PM

Comments [rss]

luvitup

BAhhahahaha, thank you all so much for making me laugh out loud while I sit in my office watching the blizzard outside getting worse and wondering what kinds of fun it will be to get home later to one of the *other* 4 boroughs.

Snoopy

That is why the rents are higher in Manhattan. So who gets the last laugh?

hunter.blatherer

So many office workers are being told to take the day off (at least among my clients). And I tell them, don't worry, I'll be in my office! (I work outside)

themercenary

It better snow, I have already purchased whiskey.

justthinkin

As a de-icer or an anti-freeze?

Greenpoint60

I am glad we have a bread machine

Snoopy

Without a cow you are a dead man.

Kevin Walsh

My guess: 2 to 4 inches, rain, then maybe a couple of inches more. The storm is close to the coast and will draw in warm air. Much ado about not much.

www.forgotten-ny.com

Joe Schumacher

Write this down: 9 inches of heavy, wet snow.

chuzzlewit

sir...could you please use the proper eskimaux terminology?

Dead Himmler

Are these weathermen reputable?

Snoopy

THERE IS NO MORE MILK AND BREAD AT THE STORES! PEOPLE ARE CRYING, "SAVE THE CHILDREN!" I SEE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE RUNNING THROUGH THE STREETS! THIS WILL MAKE KATRINA AND THE HAITIAN EARTHQUAKES LOOK LIKE BLIPS IN THE DAY TO DAY WORKINGS OF THE EARTH! I CAN ONLY THINK OF THE LAST DAYS OF POMPEII OR THE TIME THAT JEWISH GUY BUILT AN ARK! WE ARE DOOMED I TELL YOU.

Actually we will probably get a light dusting and once again the weather bureau screws up.

ed_Extinct

With these storms, in recent years, predictions are predictions, they're not accurate. When we know we're going to be hit, they usually predict under than what we get.

In January of '96 (it snowed for nearly 7 days) we were supposed to get 14" and got near 30".

In Feb '03 we were supposed to get 12" we got nailed with over 24".

In Feb of '05 we were supposed to get 8" we got 18".

I think this one may seem like less, but will be more. Wet snow is a bitch!

Steven

Yep, it's always like that. Remember just this past weekend they were predicting 2-4,3-5 inches most of the area never saw one flake while others had a light dusting (minus Staten Island).

Gertah

Since when does NYC close schools 24 hours beforehand, limit postal operations 18 hours beforehand and reduce commuter transportation in anticipation of a snowstorm? This sounds like a lot of sensationalist fearmongering to distract the public from the real reason behind all of these 'preparations': $$$. Why spend money to clear the roads continuously and keep the mail and rail systems on schedule? How about we just shut everything down instead? Except, of course, the meter maid brigade.

theevilone

Pass the crackpipe.

Kelles

Why do newscasters always run to Home Depot to interview people getting shovels before every storm? Do people really throw out their shovels after every snowstorm?

Wordsniper

Shovels break, Goren.

pinball29

Even if we get 10 inches of snow, it should be NO BIG DEAL. Um...its winter in NYC, and it snows in winter. The media are completely out of control and getting hysterical over something that is actually completely common and normal. And of course everyone buys into the hysteria because we are so, well.....bored.

pinball29

People run to Home Depot to buy a shovel b/c they want to be on TV. They return them the next day when it doesnt snow.

Joe Schumacher

You mean you can use a shovel more than once???

I was wondering the same thing last week while listening to a story on some hardware store in DC that had run out of 400 shovels. Do that many people just not have snow shovels? Do shovels really break that often?