Winter storm live updates for NYC and Tri-State Area as snow, sleet and dangerous cold take over
5m ago
Long Island and New Jersey hit a foot of snow
Long Island and New Jersey reached 12 inches of snow on Sunday afternoon.
As of 3:40 p.m., the most snow recorded was 12.1 inches in Levittown, New York. A foot of snow was also on the ground in Wayne, New Jersey.
In New York City, the most snow so far is 9.7 inches in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
North of the city, Chester in Orange County had 10.5 inches and Norwalk, Connecticut, had 9.5 inches.
15m ago
Snow totals leaderboard
Here are the highest snow totals around the Tri-State Area as of 3 p.m.:
- NYC: Washington Heights, Manhattan — 8.3 inches
- New Jersey: Wharton, Morris County — 11 inches
- Long Island: Levittown, Nassau County — 12.1 inches
- Hudson Valley: Chester, Orange County — 10.5 inches
- Connecticut: Norwalk, Fairfield County — 9.5 inches
27m ago
Significant icing in New Jersey
Sherrill said conditions on the roads remain dangerous and icy, even with crews continually plowing and salting.
“Make no mistake, it is best to stay off the roads. Even if you see the snow letting up, we’re still seeing significant icing on the street,” the governor said. “That allows our crews to keep plowing and salting to get those roads up to speed for tomorrow morning. It also allows emergency vehicles to get through.”
To watch Sherrill’s full interview, click here.
50m ago
Gov. Mikie Sherrill live on CBS News New York
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill joined CBS News New York’s special live coverage of the winter storm for an interview.
Sherrill spoke from a DOT maintenance facility in Clark, where she said crews are working around the clock with about 3,400 pounds of salt to clean up Garden State roads.
CBS News New York
“We have a lot of complicated operations going on. We pretreated or brined many of the streets here so that they were ready for this,” the governor said. “We moved into plowing operations as we had a lot of that heavy snow coming down. As we’ve gone into this icing situation, we’re now seeing movement into a lot of these salting operations to melt the ice and get down to blacktop as quickly as we can.”
Updated 2:49 PM
Central Jersey blanketed in snow
Sayreville, N.J., is looking like a winter wonderland as snow covers homes, trees and cars.
This town in Central New Jersey is forecast to get between four and nine inches of snow.
Henry Lin
Updated 2:34 PM
Suffolk County has “a battle ahead of us”
On Long Island, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine says the storm is creating very challenging conditions.
“We are going to have a long, long cold snap. So the snow that falls today is going to stay there for a long time,” Romaine said. “We know that we have a battle ahead of us. We are fighting that battle. But you make a pass, and you come back a half an hour later, and it’s like you never plowed the road because of the intensive snowfall.”
Romaine said he anticipates roads being passable by Monday morning, and “even in better shape by midday.”
He added MacArthur Airport “seems to be almost totally closed.”
Click here to watch Romaine’s full interview.
2:22 PM
NJ Transit suspended for day
All NJ Transit service is now suspended for the day. Rail service ended at 2 p.m., while buses and light rails ended at 4 a.m.
The system-wide suspension will continue until the weather improves, NJ Transit said.
The agency said it will provide updates on Monday service later today.
In New York, the MTA said it will continue train, subway and bus service, but on modified schedules due to the snow.
2:13 PM
2 p.m. snow totals
These are the highest snow totals around the region as of 2:08 p.m.:
- NYC: Washington Heights, Manhattan — 8.3 inches
- Long Island: Matinecock, Nassau County — 9.2 inches
- Hudson Valley: Stony Point and Monsey, Rockland County — 10 inches
- Connecticut: Norwalk, Fairfield County — 7.5 inches
Updated 2:08 PM
Huskies pull owner along snowy road in New Jersey
Two huskies were seen pulling their owner on a snowboard through a neighborhood in New Jersey.
The dogs, named Sherlock and Osaka, were having a grand time as they ran down the street in Ocean County.
Rob Hilliard
1:53 PM
LaGuardia Airport closed
New York’s LaGuardia Airport has been shut down as the city feels the impact of the strong winter storm.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the airport is closed until at least 8 p.m., with more than 90% of LaGuardia’s flights already canceled.
Hundreds of flights have been canceled across the NYC metropolitan area, including at LaGuardia, Kennedy and Newark Liberty.
CHARLY TRIBALLEAU /AFP via Getty Images
1:43 PM
Updated snow totals
Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, has the most snow in New York City so far with 8.1 inches as of 1:37 p.m.
New Jersey’s leader so far is River Vale, Bergen County, with 9 inches.
The most snow on Long Island so far is in Nesconset, Suffolk County, with 7.9 inches.
Connecticut’s highest total so far is in Norwalk, Connecticut, with 7.5 inches.
1:23 PM
Highest snow totals so far
Snow is piling up across the Tri-State Area.
These locations have some of the highest amounts so far:
- 7.8 inches in Dongan Hills, Staten Island
- 7.7 inches in Westfield, New Jersey
- 7 inches in Matinecock, Long Island
- 9.5 inches in Thiels, New York
- 6 inches in Norwalk, Connecticut
1:13 PM
“Stay off the roads”
Mamdani said staying off the roads is “the single most helpful thing that New Yorkers can do” during this storm.
“I cannot emphasize this enough. Please, if you can avoid it, do not drive. One of the reports we received earlier today from [DSNY] is there are still far too many New Yorkers out on the roads. Conditions are dangerous and a hazardous travel advisory is in effect for today and for tomorrow,” he said.
All service is suspended at Port Authority Bus Terminal today.
12:58 PM
Life-threatening cold weather
Mamdani reiterated the city’s Code Blue remains in effect, which means no one can be turned away at homeless shelters, amid life-threatening cold. He said the winter storm is bringing “temperatures colder than any sustained period this city has experienced for eight years.”
“Yesterday alone, before the snow had even begun to come down, at least five New Yorkers passed away and were found outside … While we do not yet know their causes of death, there is no more powerful reminder of the danger of extreme cold and how vulnerable many of our neighbors are, especially homeless New Yorkers,” the mayor said.
Mamdani said the city has opened a total of 10 warming centers, two in each borough, at school buildings. They will be availabe through at least Monday evening, he said.
“Food will be provided at each of these sites. That is in addition to the 126 shelters, over 50 hospitals and 35 safe havens where people in need can come in and get warm,” the mayor said.
Mamdani urged all New Yorkers to call 311 if they see anyone who may be in need.
12:45 PM
“Feel free to throw a snowball at me”
Mamdani acknowledged students may be disappointed about not having a snow day tomorrow, since New York state law mandates 180 days of instruction.
“So if you do see me, feel free to throw a snowball at me,” he said, jokingly.
The mayor said more than 162,000 students and 77,000 teachers logged on today in advance of their remote classes.
12:38 PM
Mamdani updating New Yorkers on snowstorm
Mayor Mamdani is giving an update on New York City’s winter storm response from the Emergency Management Office in Brooklyn.
After announcing remote learning at NYC schools tomorrow, Mamdani said all after-school programs, adult education and school-based programming are canceled.
12:11 PM
Snow day Monday in Newark
Newark Public Schools will be closed Monday, which means students in New Jersey’s largest city will have a snow day, Superintendent Roger León announced.
New York City is opting to hold classes remotely tomorrow.
12:02 PM
MTA maintaining weekend schedule
Hochul said the MTA plans to continue operating trains, subways and buses on a weekend schedule through Monday.
“We’ll be focused on snow removal on platforms and near stations, but we’re concerned about keeping people safe as they get to their jobs,” the governor said.
Hochul encouraged employers to let people work remotely Monday, if possible.
To check the status of MTA subway, bus and train lines, click here.
12:02 PM
Dogs enjoying snow across the area
While many people are inside staying warm, some dogs are taking advantage of the snowstorm.
A rescue dog named Leo enjoyed a walk Sunday morning in Bloomfield, N.J. He was seen trotting along the snowy sidewalk outfitted with his boots and red jacket.
Anthony Filiaci
11:48 AM
New York under “arctic siege,” Hochul says
Gov. Kathy Hochul said New York is under an “arctic siege” during her news conference Sunday morning, as she continued her warnings about bone-chilling cold on top of the winter storm.
“We are anticipating the longest cold stretch and the highest snow totals the state has seen in several years,” Hochul said. “Already, records in the state have been shattered.”
The governor said Watertown, in the far upstate North Country region, recorded -34 degrees Fahrenheit and the town of Copenhagen reached -49 degrees.
“That is not the real-feel. That is not the wind chill. That is the actual temperature,” Hochul said.
11:43 AM
Truly a massive winter storm
Overall, this is an expansive storm system impacting people well beyond the Tri-State Area. While snow is the main concern for us, ice and freezing rain are problems in the south all the way through parts of Arkansas.
More than 30 states are currently under winter weather alerts, including winter storm warnings and ice storm warnings.
Meanwhile, widespread heavy snow is continuing to fall across our region.
It changes over to sleet this afternoon mainly to the south and east, but New York City is forecast to see some mixing too. Tonight, the winter storm tapers back over to show showers.
11:16 AM
Broadway shows canceled
Some theatergoers will have to make alternate plans, as Broadway shows canceled Sunday performance due to the winter storm.
“Heathers the Musical” scrapped its 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. shows at New World Stages. Ticketholders can go to their point of purchase for exchanges or refunds, the show said.
“Aladdin” and “The Lion King” canceled their scheduled matinee and evening performances. More information regarding refunds for ticketholders can be found on their websites.
Meanwhile the Manhattan Theatre Club announced a $45 flash sale for tickets to its 2 p.m. matinee for “Bug” at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on West 47th Street. The 7:30 p.m. performance for “The Monsters” at NY City Center on West 55th street is cancelled, it said. Ticketholders can go to their point of purchase for exchanges or refunds.
10:29 AM
NYC Ferry service suspended
All NYC Ferry service will be suspended at 11 a.m. due to low visibility until further notice. Officials urged riders to consider alternate routes.
The ferry operates routes along the East River, South Brooklyn, Astoria, Rockaway-Soundview, St. George and the Governors Island Shuttle.
9:56 AM
Northern suburbs fully mobilized
Westchester County declared a state of emergency in anticipation of more than a foot of snow and the most dangerous temperatures in years.
Westchester is fully mobilized with extra 911 dispatchers on standby and emergency services personnel prepositioned to ensure they distressed motorists can be reached as soon as possible.
Rockland County also took precautions. The Clark Town Supervisor said crews are working 16-hour shifts with only a 4-hour break. They expect to carry on like this until Wednesday.
Snowfall rates could reach 1-2 inches per hour, creating whiteout conditions in New York City’s northern suburbs. There’s a significant ice threat too, which could weigh down power lines and turn hills into sheets of ice.
9:35 AM
Hochul to give winter storm update
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul will give an update on the winter storm Sunday morning. She is expected to hold an 11 a.m. news conference in Albany.
You can read about the governor’s remarks here.
Updated 9:31 AM
Types of snowflakes
The temperature has a huge impact on the types of snowflakes that fall, as well as how many inches of snow piles up.
Thin plates are best for building snowmen and packing snowballs because they hold more moisture. These develop when the weather is between 25-32 degrees Fahrenheit.
CBS News New York
Needles develop as the temperature drops to between 21-25 degrees.
Hollow columns and stellar plates form when there’s more air in the flakes, making them more difficult to pack. These occur between 10-21 degrees.
Dendrites, which are how most people visualize snowflakes, form between 3-10 degrees.
9:14 AM
NYC public schools have remote classes Monday
New York City announced public schools will have remote classes Monday.
This applies to K-8 students who are scheduled to have school. High schoolers and some 6-8 grade students were already scheduled to have off due to a professional development day.
Mayor Mamdani previously said the schools would not have a traditional snow day Monday, but regular classes were a possibility depending on the storm.
8:30 AM
Winter storm power outages
Nearly 200,000 people across the country, including some already in New York and New Jersey, have lost power because of the winter storm, according to the CBS News data team.
Here’s a county-by-county map of data from Find Energy showing where power outages are being reported:
8:14 AM
Mamdani meets with DSNY workers
Mayor Mamdani met with Department of Sanitation workers in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, on Sunday morning as his administration takes on its first snowstorm.
Mamdani offered his thanks and encouragement to the workers.
“I really have a very simple message from myself, from the entire team and, frankly, from the entire city of New York, which is just, thank you. The work that you all have been doing has been incredible. It’s not only keeping New Yorkers safe, it’s New Yorkers the peace of mind,” he said.
CBS News New York
DSNY said it powered up one of its largest head counts ever for the winter storm, which could be the city’s biggest in years.
7:58 AM
Winter storm timeline
The entire New York metropolitan area will be dealing with snow Sunday morning. It started snowing at around 5 a.m. and will get heavy at times.
The storm will become very dynamic by midday when snow will transition to sleet, meaning it could be snowing in the Bronx, but sleeting in Staten Island.
The snow and sleet taper off after 9 p.m., with some dry slots.
Snow showers pick up again Monday morning, but it won’t be anything like today.
7:47 AM
DSNY could deploy plows within the hour
New York City’s Acting Sanitation Commissioner Javier Lojan said plowable snow could be on the ground soon.
“Right now, we’re seeing about a trace. We think in the next hour or so we could get plowable depth, maybe 2 inches,” Lojan said on CBS News New York.
DSNY has more than 2,200 plows lined up after prep work, including pre-salting streets, started overnight, the commissioner said.
“We initiated full spreading operations around 5 a.m. and we’re going to continue that throughout the city,” he said. “There will be a long day ahead, but I think we’ll be in good shape.”
You can see which streets DSNY has plowed in real time with the PlowNYC online tracker tool.
7:38 AM
Flight cancellations
Full ground stops are possible at New York’s LaGuardia Airport and John. F. Kennedy International Airport on Sunday due to the massive winter storm, which has been wreaking havoc on air travel across the country, the Federal Aviation Administration says.
So far, more than 800 flights have been canceled at LGA and more than 900 have been canceled at JFK, according to FlightAware.
New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport is up to nearly 900 flight cancellations, so far.
7:25 AM
Dangerously frigid weather
Temperatures will remain dangerously frigid for the duration of the winter storm. Prolonged exposure to the elements today could result in hypothermia and frostbite, which could take just 30 minutes or less to set in.
Icing during the storm could have severe impacts, including slippery pavement, weighted tree limbs and isolated power outages from just one-quarter of an inch of ice or less. Any more ice accumulation will mean more dangerous travel, lots of tree damage and more scattered power outages.
And of course, the heavy snow means visibility will be low. So be cautious!
7:07 AM
Mamdani says NYC “ready for whatever winter weather comes”
Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Saturday reassured New Yorkers that city agencies are “thoroughly equipped and we are ready for whatever winter weather comes.”
“Make no mistake, New Yorkers, the full power of this city’s enormous resources are prepared, poised, and ready to be deployed,” Mamdani said.
The Department of Sanitation will deploy it fleet of 2,300 plows once 2 inches of snow are on the ground, which the mayor expects before midday.
“Snow will fall at its heaviest rate in the late morning of tomorrow and early afternoon. Visibility will be very low, winds will be gusting at speeds of up to 35 mph. New Yorkers can expect whiteout or near-blizzard conditions,” Mamdani said
7:07 AM
Are subways, buses and trains running?
New York City subways and buses will operate during the winter storm, MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said this week.
“We have detailed plans in place for storms like this to protect the network, to protect our riders, to protect our employees. We preposition a ton of equipment and personnel,” Lieber said.
Lieber said the bus network “is ready to pick up the slack as it always does in these situations.” All available buses will be outfitted with chains on their tires, but articulated ones will be removed from service for safety reasons.
Lieber also said there are 220 miles of outdoor subway tracks that need special treatment.
“We’ll be focused on making sure that those continue to be operational with our snow-fighting trains, with the de-icing systems,” Lieber said. “The same goes for the commuter railroads.”
In New Jersey, Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced NJ Transit trains will be suspended at 2 p.m. for safety reasons. NJ Transit bus, light rail and Access Link service was suspended at 4 a.m.
7:07 AM
How much snow will NYC get?
In general, areas north and west of New York City are most likely to see over 12 inches of snow. In and around the five boroughs could see 8-12 inches, while locations along the coast may only see 5-10 inches.
If New York City manages a foot of snow or more with this storm, it would be the first time since February 2021.
CBS News New York
