Forecasters Predict Historic Snowfall Totals (Image Credits: Upload.wikimedia.org)
New York City – Officials urged residents to prepare for a major nor’easter poised to unleash blizzard conditions across the Northeast starting Sunday.
Forecasters Predict Historic Snowfall Totals
The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for the city from 1 p.m. Sunday through 6 p.m. Monday, forecasting 16 to 24 inches of snow in New York City.[1] Snowfall rates could reach 1 to 3 inches per hour during the peak from late Sunday evening into Monday morning. Winds will gust up to 55 mph, with isolated gusts near 60 mph, creating whiteout conditions and near-zero visibility.[2]
This storm marks the second heavy snowfall event in less than a month, following Winter Storm Fern. Precipitation begins Sunday morning as rain in lower elevations, transitioning to all snow by evening. The system will intensify offshore, potentially qualifying as a bomb cyclone with rapid pressure drops.
City Deploys Unprecedented Snow-Fighting Arsenal
The Department of Sanitation activated a snow alert at 6 a.m. Sunday, deploying over 700 salt spreaders stocked with hundreds of millions of pounds of salt and thousands of plows on collection trucks.[3] More than 1,000 emergency snow shovelers will assist with clearing sidewalks, bus stops, crosswalks, and fire hydrants. New tracking technology will monitor progress in real time via the PlowNYC portal.
NYC Emergency Management issued a hazardous travel advisory through Monday, suspending alternate side parking and pretreating roads. Agencies including DOT, Parks, and NYPD will support operations. Mayor Zohran Mamdani warned, “Tomorrow, our city will face its second snowstorm in less than a month and our first blizzard since 2016. These have the potential to be even more hazardous conditions than we faced in the last storm.”[1]
- Property owners must clear a four-foot-wide sidewalk path within specified hours after snow stops.
- Snow cannot be shoveled into streets, bike lanes, or crosswalks.
- Over 40 warming centers will open citywide; call 311 for locations.
- Trash and recycling collections face multiday delays.
Travel Grounded Amid Widespread Disruptions
Airlines canceled nearly 6,000 flights through Monday, with over 40 percent at JFK and LaGuardia already scrapped Sunday and rising to 70 percent Monday.[4][1] Officials advised against all nonessential travel to clear paths for emergency vehicles. Public transit faces delays; MTA updates are essential.
Power outages loom from heavy, wet snow and gusty winds toppling lines. Minor coastal flooding is likely Sunday night, with moderate risks in areas like Jamaica Bay and The Battery. Schools await a decision by noon Sunday on Monday operations; several Northeast districts already shifted to remote learning.
Echoes of Past Storms in a Modern Context
This marks New York City’s first blizzard warning since 2017, potentially rivaling the 27.5 inches from 2016. A verified 20 inches would push the seasonal total to 42.3 inches at Central Park, tying 1920 for the 14th-highest on record.[1] National Weather Service meteorologist James Tomasini noted Manhattan could see 20 inches, “with a reasonable worst case of up to two feet not out of the question.”
Over 35 million people from Maryland to Massachusetts fall under blizzard warnings. Philadelphia expects 16-22 inches, Boston 12-24 inches.
- Stock a Go Bag with water, food, medications, and charged devices.
- Check on vulnerable neighbors and sign up for Notify NYC alerts.
- Secure outdoor items and elevate basement belongings against flooding.
Residents face a test of resilience as this blockbuster storm bears down. Strong preparation now could prevent emergencies later. What steps are you taking? Tell us in the comments.
