Snowstorm Cripples New York City

Heavy snow makes for perilous commute

A winter storm Monday crippled air travel, prompted the nation's largest public school district to declare a rare snow day and caused the death of a motorist.
    
The storm dumped up to a foot of snow on the metropolitan area, and wind gusts caused drifting in some spots.

More than 900 flights were canceled _ a majority of all flights at Kennedy, Newark and LaGuardia airports, according to the Port Authority. Travelers were urged to call their carriers.

About 7 inches of snow was recorded at Central Park by Monday morning.

Working parents were left scrambling for childcare as about 1.1 million public school students got a snow day; the last time that happened was Jan. 28, 2004.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the wind was a factor in the rare decision to close New York City's public schools -- the first closure in five years.

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Still, many New Yorkers expressed characteristic resilience.

“I thought it was over,” Clarissa Arroyo said of the winter weather. “But it's not.”

Nonetheless, Arroyo, who was getting her morning coffee from a cart on 34th Street in Manhattan, decided: “It's not as bad as they made it sound.”
    
On eastern Long Island, the Town of Southampton declared a snow emergency while coping with more than a foot of the stuff. Town supervisor Linda Kabot said the wind was creating 2 foot drifts on some highways.
    
Police said the icy roads in Greenlawn, Long Island, caused an accident that killed a Huntington motorist Sunday night, at the start of the snowstorm.

“It's a classic Nor'easter,” said meteorologist John Marshall.

The National Weather Service said another 3{ inches could fall by early afternoon. A storm warning was in effect until 6 p.m. Monday, with wind gusts near 35 mph, said meteorologist John Murray.
    
At the Port Authority terminal in midtown Manhattan, all “long haul” bus service on Greyhound, Peter Pan and Adirondack lines was canceled. Spokesman Steve Coleman said 25 mph speed restrictions were being enforced at all its bridges.
    
Vehicular and pedestrian traffic was light during the morning commute. Sidewalks were slushy and many crosswalks were snow packed. Some vehicles fishtailed on slippery streets. Drivers tried to maneuver out of snow-filled parking spots, tires spinning.
    
Bus and subway service was running near normal with scattered delays.
    
Long Island Rail Road and PATH service were running on or close to schedule. Metro-North reported delays of up to 30 minutes on some trains. It advised riders to allow extra time and to watch for slippery platforms.
    
Sunny but brisk and windy weather was expected for Tuesday.

New Jersey:

More than 9 inches of snow was on the ground in Atlantic and Cumberland counties by 5:30 a.m., while about 4 to 5 inches had fallen in Cape May and Camden counties.

Many accidents and spinouts had occurred across the state as conditions continued to deteriorate, and a few thousand people were without power in central Jersey.

The snow had slowed down in some areas just before dawn, but another round of heavy snow was expected as the morning progressed.

Classes were canceled in dozens of school districts, and hundreds of arriving and departing flights at Newark Liberty International Airport had been canceled.

The weather spurred Gov. Jon Corzine to order a two-hour delayed opening for all state offices on Monday.

Connecticut:

The Connecticut State Department of Transportation says the heavy winter storm has left a slippery covering of snow on the major highways and secondary roads.
    
DOT storm monitor Jeff Adams says neither is in very good shape. State trucks have been trying to play catch up since the storm started Sunday night.
    
Schools systems across the state have canceled class for the day.
    
Adams says the morning commute is going to be very slow going. But he says there could be a break in the storm that could give the DOT a chance to catch up.

At Bradley International Airport, several flights have been canceled, but the airport remains open. Bradley operations says the cancelations represent about 75-80 percent of the scheduled morning flights. 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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