Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ISSUES TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR SUNDAY AND MONDAY AM RUSH

Snow and freezing rain are expected Sunday evening through Monday morning, creating dangerous travel conditions

February 28, 2015 — The New York City Office of Emergency Management today issued a travel advisory for a wintry mix of snow and freezing rain Sunday, March 1 through Monday morning, March 2, 2015. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for 10:00AM Sunday through 7:00AM Monday. Light snow will develop by midday Sunday, with 1-2 inches of accumulation expected by Sunday evening. The snow will mix with or change to freezing rain Sunday evening. The ice and snow is expected to taper off before the Monday morning commute, but untreated roads and walkways are expected to still be slippery. A total of 2-4 inches of snow is expected in total, with up to a tenth of an inch of ice. New Yorkers are asked to exercise caution and be prepared for slippery conditions.

Treating Icy Roadways and Snow Removal
The NYC Department of Sanitation has issued a snow alert and is pre-deploying 500 salt spreaders across the five boroughs to treat arterial highways, bus routes, school streets, hilly roads, etc. In addition, DSNY will have 1500 plows available in anticipation of any plowing needs (more than 2 inches of accumulation).

For Motorists

  • Drive slowly. Posted speed limits are for ideal weather conditions. Vehicles take longer to stop on snow and ice than on dry pavement.
  • Use major streets or highways for travel whenever possible; these roadways will be cleared first.
  • Four-wheel drive vehicles may make it easier to drive on snow-covered roads, but they do not stop quicker than other vehicles.
  • Keep the name and phone number of at least one local towing service in your car in case you break down or become stuck in snow.
  • If you get stuck on the road, stay with your car and contact a towing company.

For Pedestrians

  • Exercise caution and avoid slippery surfaces; some ice may not be visible. Wear sturdy boots that provide traction to reduce slipping.
  • Have a heightened awareness of cars, particularly when approaching or crossing intersections.
  • Seniors should take extra care outdoors to avoid slips and falls from icy conditions.

More information

For more helpful winter weather tips, view NYC Emergency Management's winter weather video, visit NYC.gov/severeweather.

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 traffic and transit disruptions and other emergencies. To sign up for Notify NYC, call 311, visit NYC.gov/notifynyc, or follow @NotifyNYC on Twitter.

CONTACT:  Nancy Silvestri/Omar Bourne                     (718) 422-4888