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Schools Closed, Roads Clogged, Trains Delayed: Snowstorm Lashes New York City Schools Closed, Roads Clogged, Trains Delayed: Snowstorm Lashes New York City
(about 1 hour later)
Read the latest on how the “bomb cyclone” winter storm is affecting the East Coast with Thursday’s live updates.
With twisting winds and sideways gusts of snow, the first major snowstorm of the season lashed New York City on Thursday, slowing commutes, shuttering schools and punishing those who stepped outside with weather that had charged from Florida up the East Coast.With twisting winds and sideways gusts of snow, the first major snowstorm of the season lashed New York City on Thursday, slowing commutes, shuttering schools and punishing those who stepped outside with weather that had charged from Florida up the East Coast.
The storm closed city schools, canceled flights, glazed roads and forced some New York City subway and Long Island Rail Road lines to run with delays.The storm closed city schools, canceled flights, glazed roads and forced some New York City subway and Long Island Rail Road lines to run with delays.
Central Park was coated in an inch of snow by 7 a.m. and the National Weather Service warned that Long Island could get three inches of snow per hour.Central Park was coated in an inch of snow by 7 a.m. and the National Weather Service warned that Long Island could get three inches of snow per hour.
The governors of New Jersey and Connecticut told nonessential state employees to stay home and Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey declared a state of emergency for Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth and Ocean counties.The governors of New Jersey and Connecticut told nonessential state employees to stay home and Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey declared a state of emergency for Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth and Ocean counties.
In Asbury Park, in Monmouth County, the first plows started scraping the pavement before 6 a.m., moving through clouds of wind-whipped snow that blew horizontally down Ocean Avenue and the boardwalk. With schools and many businesses closed, there were few signs of activity in the blue-gray morning.In Asbury Park, in Monmouth County, the first plows started scraping the pavement before 6 a.m., moving through clouds of wind-whipped snow that blew horizontally down Ocean Avenue and the boardwalk. With schools and many businesses closed, there were few signs of activity in the blue-gray morning.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority was deploying an arsenal of equipment to keep the Long Island Rail Road running through the storm: switch heaters, third-rail heaters and antifreeze trains. That was little comfort for Ralph Girardi, who pulled a cellphone from his backpack inside the waiting area of the Bellmore station. He was not going to take any chances.The Metropolitan Transportation Authority was deploying an arsenal of equipment to keep the Long Island Rail Road running through the storm: switch heaters, third-rail heaters and antifreeze trains. That was little comfort for Ralph Girardi, who pulled a cellphone from his backpack inside the waiting area of the Bellmore station. He was not going to take any chances.
“I’m just about to call my boss and tell him I am turning around,” Mr. Girardi, 60, said. “ I just don’t trust the trains. My concern is that I’m not going to be able to get out of the city later in the day.”“I’m just about to call my boss and tell him I am turning around,” Mr. Girardi, 60, said. “ I just don’t trust the trains. My concern is that I’m not going to be able to get out of the city later in the day.”
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo warned New Yorkers of “an ugly, difficult commute.”Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo warned New Yorkers of “an ugly, difficult commute.”
“You have to expect a very rough day, right?” he said in an interview on NY1. “It is a combination of snow and wind and frigid temperatures. That is a bad mix. I have been driving around myself this morning. Look at the conditions, they are terrible and only going to deteriorate further through the day.”“You have to expect a very rough day, right?” he said in an interview on NY1. “It is a combination of snow and wind and frigid temperatures. That is a bad mix. I have been driving around myself this morning. Look at the conditions, they are terrible and only going to deteriorate further through the day.”
Cars were skidding and slipping in the suburbs outside New York City. Westchester County police officers removed a dozen disabled cars on four county parkways in the early hours of Thursday’s commute.Cars were skidding and slipping in the suburbs outside New York City. Westchester County police officers removed a dozen disabled cars on four county parkways in the early hours of Thursday’s commute.
“The roads are slick, they are icy and snow-covered,” said Christine Kelleher, a spokeswoman for the Westchester County Police. “We recommend that you stay off them. Most of the disabled cars have been spin outs.”“The roads are slick, they are icy and snow-covered,” said Christine Kelleher, a spokeswoman for the Westchester County Police. “We recommend that you stay off them. Most of the disabled cars have been spin outs.”
The NYC Ferry suspended service to some of its docks on Thursday morning, but continued to operate other routes on the East River.The NYC Ferry suspended service to some of its docks on Thursday morning, but continued to operate other routes on the East River.
Aside from a handful of delivery trucks and bike messengers, the major thoroughfares of Astoria were largely empty on Thursday morning, as the storm descended on this northwestern corner of Queens.Aside from a handful of delivery trucks and bike messengers, the major thoroughfares of Astoria were largely empty on Thursday morning, as the storm descended on this northwestern corner of Queens.
Cars inched along, with a number of side streets still waiting to be plowed by rush hour. Commuters kept their eyes to the ground, fearful of being battered by the horizontal snow.Cars inched along, with a number of side streets still waiting to be plowed by rush hour. Commuters kept their eyes to the ground, fearful of being battered by the horizontal snow.
On the aboveground subway platform at Astoria Boulevard, riders hid behind signs and advertisements to avoid the whipping winds. But on a morning like this, commuters brave enough to face the storm welcomed the unexpected: the subways, at least for the moment, seemed to be running on time.On the aboveground subway platform at Astoria Boulevard, riders hid behind signs and advertisements to avoid the whipping winds. But on a morning like this, commuters brave enough to face the storm welcomed the unexpected: the subways, at least for the moment, seemed to be running on time.