Brutal Cold, Dangerous Black Ice Threaten Tri-State After Monster Snowstorm
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Chris Cimino’s weather forecast for Friday, February 10.
The powerful storm that dumped more than a foot of snow on parts of the tri-state had moved out by Friday morning, leaving behind frigid temperatures, brutal winds and heaps of wet snow — perfect conditions for perilous black ice.
Frigid temperatures descended on the tri-state after Thursday’s monster snowstorm. Commuters in New Jersey were treading lightly Friday morning as the cold temperatures froze leftover snow. Tracie Strahan reports.
Clumps of wet, icy snow remained on many area streets and sidewalks, and officials warned that black ice and slick spots posed a significant threat on untreated surfaces as commuters hit the roads and rails Friday.
Temperatures were well below freezing Friday morning and were expected to stay bitterly cold throughout the day as blustery winds continued.
Patches of black ice formed in the five boroughs and along the Jersey Shore, but were expected to be more widespread to the northwest of the city, as well as on Long Island and in Connecticut.
Long Island got the brunt of Thursday’s snowstorm. Crews were working to dig out Friday morning as many schools canceled classes. Rana Novini reports.
A black ice alert was in effect for all of New Jersey Friday and schools were to be delayed 90 minutes to give buses time to get to pick up students safely.
Thursday’s storm was blamed for at least one death in New York City. It also caused hundreds of car accidents, crippled travel by ground and air, closed schools and offices, and cut power to thousands of people across the tri-state.
Long Island, where a state of emergency was declared in Suffolk County and whiteout conditions were widespread, saw more than a foot of snow in many spots. Selden got 16 inches, while 15.5 inches fell on Bohemia and 14 inches on Hicksville.
Road crews worked around the clock to clear the streets in New York City after a snowstorm dropped more than a foot of snow in some areas. Many vehicles and sidewalks were still covered in the white stuff Friday morning as residents prepared for work. Katherine Creag reports.
There was also significant snowfall in the Hudson Valley, with 12 inches of snow recorded in Poughkeepsie and Kingston. Snow piled up in New York City too, with Fresh Meadows, Queens, getting 13.2 inches and the northwest Bronx, 12.5 inches. In New Jersey, Highland Lakes saw 11.1 inches.
It's forecast to warm a little this weekend, with highs in the 40s under mostly cloudy skies. Sprinkles are possible Saturday and rain is likely Sunday.
Getty Images
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 9: A man walks across the Brooklyn Bridge in the snow, February 9, 2017 in New York City. Following a day of 60 degree temperatures, New York City is expected to receive significant snowfall throughout the day on Thursday. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
A group of people moved a car stuck in snowy conditions on I-95 Thursday morning.
A train arrives at the Bedford Hills Metro-North station Thursday morning. There weren't many passengers to greet it.
An SUV crashed on Route 35 in Ocean Township.
A tractor-trailer careened off I-287 in Westchester on Thursday morning.
Cabs moved slowly through Times Square Thursday morning as the roads turned slushy.
The NBC 4 New York Skycam captured a snowy scene on the Long Island Expressway, near exit 55, Thursday morning.
Passengers waited amid snowfall Thursday morning at the LIRR station in Deer Park.
Roads were snowy and slick as StormChaser4 approached the Tappan Zee Bridge on Thursday morning.
StormChaser4 traveled through the snowy, empty streets of Tarrytown Thursday morning.
Heavy snow began to stick to the roads as StormChaser4 left Tarrytown early Thursday.
Snowplows were getting ready to clear highways at the Vince Lombardi rest area in Ridgefield, New Jersey, early Thursday.
Eighth Avenue was covered in slush and snow outside the Port Authority Bus Terminal just before dawn.
Sleet made driving conditions in central New Jersey treacherous as day broke Thursday.
A snow plow crashed into a pole as it was clearing snow in Huntington Village Thursday morning.
A stiff breeze had the flags in Rockefeller Center at attention as the storm began to crank in New York City.
The Garden State Parkway was a sea of white near mile marker 115 as the sun rose Thursday morning.
The Hutchinson River Parkway in White Plains is fully coated by the winter storm.
Instagram User @justinstagreen
Instagram user @justinstagreen shared this photo from Times Square Thursday.
Instagram User @maximusupinnyc
Instagram user @maximusupinnyc shared this photo from the Brooklyn Bridge during Thursday's storm.
Instagram User @mariyamova
Instagram user @mariyamova shared this photo of New Yorkers trekking in the snow Thursday.
Instagram User @@betows1
Instagram User @@betows1 shared this photo of snow in the city Thursday.
Instagram User @chris7021
Instagram user @chris7021 shared this photo of the 7 train in the snow Thursday.
Instagram User @merrynerry
The city was covered in white Thursday. Instagram user @merrynerry shared this photo with NBC 4 New York.
Instagram User @bhushan_nyc
Snow blanketed NYC Thursday. Instagram user @bhushan_nyc shared this photo with NBC 4 New York.
Stefan Holt / NBC 4 New York
NBC 4 New York's Stefan Holt shared this photo on Instagram Thursday of snow falling in NYC.
Erica Davies
The only one at Rockefeller Rink today is Titan Prometheus, who's probably a little cold since he's under dressed.
Erica Davies
Pedestrians shield their faces from the snow as they make their way through Rockefeller Plaza.
Erica Davies
The weather has turned Rockefeller Plaza into a ghost town.
Erica Davies
Titus Prometheus isn't alone: he's got a bronze friend to commiserate with him in the snow.
Erica Davies
Trees were covered in white snow jackets along 49th Street Thursday morning.
Erica Davies
Flags whipped through the air as snowflakes and wind swirled wildly Thursday morning.
Erica Davies
It wasn't raining, but pedestrians made sure to keep the umbrella handy.
Erica Davies
Twigs on shrubs bowed out from the piles of snow that fell onto them.
Curtis Moore
One driver suffered an early wipe out on the New Jersey Turnpike this morning.
Getty Images
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 9: A family plays in the snow in Washington Square Park, February 9, 2017 in New York City. Following a day of 60 degree temperatures, New York City is expected to receive significant snowfall throughout the day on Thursday. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Getty Images
RONKONKOMA, NY - FEBRUARY 09: A man walks to the stairs as commuters head to work at the Ronkonkoma train station as a blizzard hits the New York Area on February 9, 2017 in Ronkonkoma, New York.Following a day of 60 degree temperatures, the Northeast is expected to receive a significant snowfall throughout the day. (Photo by Andrew Theodorakis/Getty Images)
