New Yorkers can expect a snowy start to Sunday morning with several inches set to fall throughout the metro area, followed by freezing temperatures through the weekend and Monday, meteorologists said.
The snow is expected to begin a few hours after sunset Saturday — earlier than previously forecast — with the heaviest snowfall hitting between midnight and 9 a.m., according to the National Weather Service.
By the time the city wakes up, “there should be a few inches of snow on the ground,” said Joe Pollina, a meteorologist with the agency.
The forecast is calling for about 2 to 4 inches of snow in New York City and northeastern New Jersey with 3 to 5 inches possible across Long Island. The snow will taper off from west to east late Sunday morning, Pollina said.
“That first accumulating snowfall can catch people off guard and quickly create slippery conditions,” said New York City Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol in a statement. “We urge everyone to use caution when traveling, check on neighbors who may need assistance and stay informed by signing up for Notify NYC.”
While the fast-moving storm is expected to clear out by Monday, it’s one of the city’s busiest tourist seasons. Federal and city officials urged travelers to stay off the roads Saturday night and Sunday. The city’s sanitation department declared a “snow alert” starting at 7 p.m. Saturday and said it would begin salting roads and bike lanes ahead of the storm.
Temperatures will stay firmly in winter territory in the days that follow. Highs on Sunday are expected to top out in the low- to mid-30s — about 10 degrees below normal. Conditions will be even colder Monday, with highs hovering around 30 degrees. Forecasters say temperatures will feel like they're in the teens both days.
Those temperatures have prompted “Code Blue” status in Newark through next week, meaning outreach teams will be dispatched to get anyone sleeping on the street into shelter. New York City typically declares a Code Blue when temperatures go below freezing at night. The mayor's office didn't immediately respond to a question about the city's Code Blue status.
New Yorkers can expect a modest warm-up by Tuesday, but temperatures will still remain below seasonal averages, Pollina said.
