New York State of Emergency: what counties and what restrictions are there?
Governor Andrew Cuomo has issued a State of Emergency for 44 counties in the state due to the Nor’easter poised to produce blizzard-like conditions.
The slow-moving nor’easter which moved into downstate Sunday night, is expected to produce blizzard-like conditions over the next two days with wind gusts ranging from 40 to 60 mph. The storm will continue through Tuesday evening in Upstate New York bringing over a foot of snow in several locations, with up to 18 inches of snow forecast for New York City, Long Island and Mid-Hudson Regions.
In some cases, 2 to 3 inches of snow could fall in an hour causing major roadways to be shut down if snowplows are unable to keep up with the snow falls. Most public transportation will be suspended in New York City, with flights at JFK and LaGuardia cancelled.
During the State of Emergency, Cuomo wants people to stay home and stay off the roads, except for those who must get to work. “This is a dangerous, life-threatening situation and again, expect major closures,” Cuomo said. Adding this is “Seriously dangerous and there is no reason to be out on the roads and it’s only going to get worse.”
What counties are part of the State of Emergency
The emergency declaration covers most counties in New York outside of Western New York.
It includes New York City and Albany, Broome, Cayuga, Chemung, Chenango, Clinton, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Dutchess, Essex, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Madison, Montgomery, Nassau, Oneida, Onondaga, Orange, Otsego, Putnam, Rensselaer, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Schuyler, Seneca, Suffolk, Sullivan, Tioga, Tompkins, Ulster, Warren, Washington, Westchester, and Yates counties.
What to expect
The storm is expected to create dangerous travel conditions and potential power outages due to the combination of heavy snow and gusty winds, as well as flooding of low-lying areas in coastal locations for several days.
Coastal areas of Long Island and Queens could experience multiple rounds of flooding, especially during high tides and in vulnerable, low-lying locations. Current forecasts call for two to three feet of inundation above ground level particularly on Monday night.
“I strongly urge all New Yorkers to keep a very close eye on the weather over the next few days and take steps to keep yourself and your loved ones safe."
For a complete listing of weather watches and warnings in your area, visit your area's National Weather Service website.
Vaccination service cancelled or delayed
Downstate state-run mass vaccination sites will be closed Tuesday, 2 February with all appointments rescheduled at the following locations:
Upstate state-run mass vaccination sites will open with delayed start at 10am Tuesday, 2 February at the following locations:
Appointments previously scheduled before 10am will be rescheduled for later in the day on Tuesday.
Restrictions across New York State
If snowfall rate reaches between 2 -3 Inches per hour bans may be imposed on portions of key roadways including Long Island Expressway, I-84 and Various Parkways.
Above-Ground Subway Service Suspended
Long Island Rail Road service suspended
Metro-North service suspended
Short and Long Tandems Banned on:
Empty Trailers Banned on:
Empty and Tandem Trailers Banned on:
Winter Safety Tips
For more safety tips for all types of weather events, visit the DHSES website.