NYC Digs Out After Biggest Snowstorm in Years; Cold Night and Slick Roads Follow

By [Staff Reporter] — New York City and the surrounding Tri-State area spent Saturday digging out after the region’s largest snowfall event in nearly four years, as crews worked through the night to clear streets and power crews assessed localized outages while residents prepared for a frigid night ahead.

Heavy snow and wintry mix moved through the metropolitan area Friday into early Saturday, leaving the city with measurable accumulations and heavier totals north and east of the city, particularly across Westchester County, Long Island and southern Connecticut, authorities and meteorologists said.

Snow totals and regional impacts

Central Park recorded 4.3 inches of snow from the event, the city’s largest single-storm accumulation since January 2022, according to local weather reports and regional media coverage.[3][4] Much higher totals were reported outside the five boroughs: parts of Westchester, Putnam and Orange counties generally saw 5–7 inches, some locations on Long Island and in Connecticut reported 7–9 inches, and isolated pockets recorded higher amounts.[3]

Meteorologists noted that warmer air aloft in some areas limited totals across parts of New York City and northern New Jersey by producing sleet and freezing rain that reduced snowfall accumulation despite surface temperatures below freezing.[3]

Transportation and public services

Road crews and transit agencies worked through the night to restore mobility and remove snow. City sanitation and Department of Transportation teams focused on priority routes, bus lanes and hospitals while warning that untreated surfaces would become extremely slick overnight as temperatures dropped into the teens and 20s Fahrenheit.[2][3]

Commuters were advised to expect delays: flights, trains and buses experienced disruptions during the height of the storm and on Saturday as cleanup continued and service adjustments remained in effect. Local media reported hazardous driving conditions, reduced visibility and numerous spinouts on area roadways, particularly in suburban and Hudson Valley corridors that received heavier snow.[2]

Power, schools and emergency response

Utility crews staged to respond to localized outages caused by the heavy, wet snow and downed branches; municipal emergency management offices urged residents to report outages and to avoid downed lines.[2] School districts across counties that saw higher accumulations announced delays or remote learning plans for Monday where conditions or cleanup timelines warranted, while city agencies evaluated individual school closures as crews assessed building access and parking lots.

Public safety and health advisories

Authorities urged residents to take precautions: limit nonessential travel, allow plows to pass, clear exhaust pipes, check on elderly or medically vulnerable neighbors, and avoid overexertion while shoveling to prevent injuries or cardiac events. Drivers were reminded to reduce speed, increase following distances and equip vehicles for winter conditions.[2]

Weather outlook

The storm system was largely exiting the region by Saturday, though some light flurries and a wintry mix persisted in spots along the I-95 corridor, with the potential for an additional inch of snow or a light glaze of ice in isolated areas, forecasters said.[4] Even after skies begin to clear, temperatures were expected to struggle above freezing and drop sharply overnight into the teens and 20s, increasing the risk of icy conditions on untreated surfaces.[3]

How neighborhoods fared

Within New York City, borough totals varied: Manhattan’s Central Park was measured at 4.3 inches, while other boroughs recorded a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain that produced lower official totals in some locations, according to regional reporting and meteorological summaries.[3]

Suburban areas north and east of the city reported the most significant impacts. Westchester County crews reported some of the heaviest snowfall totals in the metro area, which produced more prolonged travel disruptions and required additional plowing and tree-clearing operations.[2]

Recovery and next steps

City and county crews emphasized that cleanup would continue into the weekend and early next week, with priority on keeping emergency routes clear and restoring full transit and utility service where possible.[2] Residents were advised to monitor local government and transit authority updates for changing conditions, possible service advisories, and guidance on snow removal and parking rules that can affect towing and ticketing during and after a storm.

Officials also reminded the public to prepare for prolonged cold and overnight refreezing by protecting exposed pipes, ensuring pets have shelter, and keeping emergency supplies on hand in case of continued disruptions.[3][4]