Storm hits Long Island City (Photo: Michael Dorgan/Queens Post)
Feb. 1, 2021 By Allie Griffin
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced more cancellations Monday morning–as the city is expected to get slammed with at least 16 to 22 inches of snow.
School buildings will be closed Tuesday and vaccination appointments scheduled for tomorrow will be postponed, de Blasio said. Both were already shut down today.
Public school instruction will be fully remote until at least Wednesday.
In addition, alternate side parking rules will be suspended through Saturday, the mayor added.
The city is under a state of emergency order until 6 a.m. Tuesday and nonessential travel is restricted citywide due the blizzard conditions.
“Stay off the roads. Stay off the streets and sidewalks. Stay inside,” de Blasio said during a press briefing Monday. “If there’s any way you can avoid traveling, avoid traveling today.”
Above-ground subway service will also be suspended beginning at 2 p.m. today, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced at a separate new conference. Underground subway service will continue as well as buses–although some bus routes may be suspended in the next few hours.
Meanwhile, de Blasio said he hopes to see the streets cleared for outdoor dining at city restaurants tomorrow. Outdoor dining is suspended today for snow removal efforts.
The snow is expected to continue falling for most of the day. At times, the accumulation will be about two inches within an hour — making snow removal challenging.
“It’s a tough storm,” said City Sanitation Commissioner Edward Grayson. “We just need time to do our jobs.”
Grayson said Sanitation workers will be plowing over the same streets several times throughout the day. He reminded to New Yorkers to stay off the road.
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