FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
#1-17


January 5, 2017 – The New York City Emergency Management Department today issued a travel advisory for tonight through Friday.  The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory in effect from 10:00 PM Thursday through 10:00 AM Friday. A Winter Weather Advisory means that periods of snow, sleet, or freezing rain will cause difficult travel conditions. Snow is expected to begin late Thursday evening and will continue through Friday morning, possibly impacting the morning commute. A total of one to four inches of snow is expected. Temperatures tonight are expected to be in the upper twenties, with wind chills in the mid-twenties. Temperatures Friday are forecast to be in the mid-thirties with wind chills in the mid-twenties. Temperatures drop Friday night to the low twenties, with wind chills in the teens.  New Yorkers are advised to exercise caution when driving, walking, or biking, and allow for additional travel time as roads may be slippery.

Parking

Alternate Side Parking rules are suspended Friday, January 6, 2017 for snow operations. Parking meters remain in effect.

Safety tips:

Exercise caution and avoid slippery surfaces; some ice may not be visible. Wear sturdy boots that provide traction to reduce slipping. Use handrails when using stairs. Seniors should take extra care outdoors to avoid slips and falls from icy conditions.

When driving in snowy or icy conditions:

• Drive slowly. Vehicles take longer to stop on snow and ice than on dry pavement.
• Use major streets or highways for travel where possible.
• Install good winter tires that have adequate tread. All-weather radials are usually adequate for most winter conditions.
• Four-wheel drive vehicles may make it easier to drive on snow-covered roads, but they do not stop quicker than other vehicles.
• Know your vehicle’s braking system. Vehicles with anti-lock brakes require a different braking technique than vehicles without anti-lock brakes in icy or snowy conditions.
• If you are driving and begin to skid, ease your foot off the gas and steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go. Straighten the wheel when the car moves in the desired direction. If you have an anti-lock braking system (ABS), apply steady pressure to the brake pedal. Never pump the brakes on an ABS equipped vehicle.
• Try to keep your vehicle’s gas tank as full as possible.
• Keep the name and phone number of at least one local towing service in your car in case you break down or become stuck.
• If you get stuck on the road, stay with your car and contact a towing company.

New Yorkers are also encouraged to take the following precautions during extreme cold:

• Stay indoors as much as possible.
• If you have to go outdoors, wear dry, warm clothing and cover exposed skin. Keep fingertips, earlobes, and noses covered.
• Wear a hat, hood, or scarf, as most heat is lost through the head.
• Shivering is an important first sign that the body is losing heat. Shivering is a signal to return indoors.
• Drinking alcohol may make you think you feel warmer, but it actually increases your chances of hypothermia and frostbite.
• Follow your doctor’s advice about performing hard work in the cold if you have heart disease or high blood pressure. Cold weather puts an extra strain on the heart. Remember, your body is already working hard just to stay warm, so don’t overdo it.

For more winter weather safety tips, visit NYC.gov/EmergencyManagement. New Yorkers are also encouraged to sign up for Notify NYC, the City’s free emergency notification system. Through Notify NYC, New Yorkers can receive phone calls, text messages, and/or emails alerts about winter weather conditions and other emergencies. To sign up for Notify NYC, call 311, visit NYC.gov/notifynyc, or follow @NotifyNYC on Twitter.


MEDIA CONTACT: Nancy Silvestri/Omar Bourne (718) 422-4888
STAY CONNECTED: Twitter: @NotifyNYC (emergency notifications); @nycoem (emergency preparedness info); Facebook: /NYCemergencymanagement