Press Release

For Immediate Release  
#16-22


NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ISSUES TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR THURSDAY NIGHT, FEBRUARY 24, THROUGH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25


A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 10 p.m. Thursday to 1 p.m. Friday; 1 to 3 inches of snow is predicted 

Wintry mix of snow, sleet, and rain are expected to impact Friday morning commute

February 24, 2022 — The New York City Emergency Management Department today issued a travel advisory for Thursday night, February 24, through Friday, February 25. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for New York City in effect from 10 p.m. Thursday to 1 p.m. Friday. According to the latest forecast, snow will begin Thursday night and will change to a mix of snow, sleet, rain, and possible freezing rain early Friday morning. This may create icy road conditions for the morning commute. Rain is then forecast from late morning into the afternoon with dry conditions likely by the evening commute. Total combined snow and sleet accumulations of 1 to 3 inches and ice accumulations of up to one-tenth of an inch are expected.

"With a potential wintry mix arriving in New York City Thursday night into Friday morning, New Yorkers should prepare for slippery road conditions, especially during the morning commute," said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol. "We encourage all New Yorkers to use mass transit, allow for extra travel time, and exercise caution."

"DOT crews will be working around the clock to ensure our roads, bridges, and step streets are pre-treated over the next day, ahead of the rapidly changing weather. We advise motorists to be cautious of the potentially hazardous road conditions and avoid driving if possible," said NYC Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. "We'll be working closely with our sister agencies at NYC Department of Sanitation and NYC Emergency Management to help keep New Yorkers safe."

"Even though it was 70 degrees yesterday, winter is far from over, and DSNY never bets on rain in February. We've got salt spreaders out working, and will have plows ready to go. We need New Yorkers to be safe and stay off the roads as much as possible, giving us the space to get the job done," said Edward Grayson, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Sanitation.

The City's Sanitation Department is filling salt spreaders to pretreat New York City's roadways. More than 700 will be active across the city throughout the weather event as needed to prevent icing conditions. Liquid brine will be placed on certain roadways and protected bike lanes to limit the amount of snow accumulation. The Department is prepared to deploy plows in every sector in the event of accumulations over 2 inches.

Safety Tips

  • Allow for extra travel time. New Yorkers are urged to use public transportation.
  • If you must drive, drive slowly. Use major streets or highways for travel whenever possible.
  • Vehicles take longer to stop on snow and ice than on dry pavement.
  • Pedestrians should 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.
  • Take care when walking on snow and ice, especially if you are an older adult. Older adults should take extra care outdoors to avoid slips and falls from icy conditions.
  • Have heightened awareness of cars, particularly when approaching or crossing intersections.
  • Wear layers including a hat, gloves/mittens, and a scarf to stay protected from the cold. And keep clothes and shoes dry, if a layer becomes wet, remove it.
  • Keep fingertips, earlobes, and noses covered if you go outside.

For more safety tips, visit NYC.gov/SevereWeather. Before and during an emergency, the City will send emergency alerts and updates to New Yorkers through various channels including 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. Sign up for Notify NYC to receive free emergency alerts and updates in your preferred language by visiting NYC.gov/NotifyNYC, calling 311 (212-639-9675 for Video Relay Service, or TTY: 212-504-4115), following @NotifyNYC on Twitter, or getting the free Notify NYC mobile application for your Apple or Android device.

-30-

MEDIA CONTACT: Press Office (718) 422-4888

STAY CONNECTED: Twitter:           @NotifyNYC (emergency notifications)
@nycemergencymgt (emergency preparedness info)
Facebook:        /NYCemergencymanagement