Blizzard Buries Tri-State Area

Update, 8:22 pm:

Travel ban to lift at 7:00 am

“We will lift the travel ban at 7 AM tomorrow morning,” Mayor DeBlasio said. “We continue to urge New Yorkers not to travel unless necessary. Our plows will still be clearing the streets, and we must keep the streets passable for emergency vehicles. Whenever possible, New Yorkers should stay indoors until this storm passes,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.
 
School closures:
Bais Rivka: closed Sunday all grades

Lubavitch Yeshiva Crown St:
No school till grade 3
regular school for grades 4-8 with an early dismissal.

Oholei Torah:
Pre-1a no school
Grades 1-8, school is open, no transportation
Minyan begins regular time grades 6,7,8
Grade 5 begins 9:00

Bnos Menachem:
Closed Sunday all grades

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Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced a travel ban for New York City due to the blizzard that is slamming the Tri-State area Saturday, and it will stay in place until further notice.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said late Saturday that the National WeatherService now expects 24 to 28 inches of snow to fall on New York City. In Central Park, the snow totaled 19.3 as of 4 p.m., and snow was not expected to taper off for at least another five hours afterward, CBS2’s Lonnie Quinn reported.

Due to severe winter weather, Mayor De Blasio has issued a State of Emergency for New York City. All non-emergency vehicles must be off all roads in the city by 2:30 PM, and until further notice.

As for parents, De Blasio had this warning: “I understand fully kids clamoring for fun in the snow, but my best advice is don’t go out or go out very briefly and keep a very close eye on your kids. There will be time for fun in the snow tomorrow and going forward but right now this is a fast-moving, intensifying storm and it should be treated with that respect.”

Beginning at 2:30 p.m., all New York City roads — as well as all Port Authority bridges and tunnels — were shut down to non-emergency motorists.

Those who are caught on a banned road will receive a summons with the possibility of points on their license and a fine, Cuomo said. Arrests are also possible.

Forecast:
TONIGHT: Blizzard of 2016 will be winding down and should move out of the area around midnight.

SUNDAY: Partly sunny with a high in the mid-30s.

MONDAY: Mostly sunny with a high in the mid-30s.

TUESDAY: Showers possible in the afternoon. High in the low 40s.

Blizzard, winter storm and coastal flood warnings remain in effect for much of the area.

Significant shutdowns and service changes are in effect while New York City gets hammered by a winter storm that could be one of the biggest in the city’s history.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said there have been three snow-shoveling deaths in the city — one on Staten Island and two in Queens.

Altogether, NYPD has responded to 270 crashes and towed 300 vehicles.

Below is a breakdown of service changes, based on mode of transportation:

SUBWAY SERVICE
All outdoor subways in New York shut down at 4 p.m. due to the heavy winter storm. Underground subway operations will continue as feasible.

LIRR, METRO NORTH
Commuter trains on the LIRR and Metro North are included in the shutdown. Tracks are reported to be icing over.

ROADWAYS
A coordinated ban on travel in New York City, Nassau and Suffolk counties began at 2:30 p.m. The ban has been coordinated with New Jersey, closing Port Authority bridges and tunnels into New York. Only authorized emergency vehicles, hazard vehicles and critical healthcare personnel are permitted on roads.

BUS SERVICE
MTA bus service was suspended at noon on Saturday.

ALTERNATE SIDE PARKING
Alternate Side Parking Regulations will be suspended Saturday, January 23, and Monday, January 25, to facilitate snow removal.
“When the snowfall reaches a certain rate, the plows cannot keep up. that is where we are,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said that he is in contact with Cuomo. “We are making decisions regarding the roadways in the northern part of the state that lead into New York in conjunction with the governor.”