A powerful nor'easter began barreling into the tri-state Friday night slightly ahead of schedule, bringing the first few snowflakes before it morphs into a potentially paralyzing blizzard with blasting winds, heavy snow and coastal flooding.
Subway service is not expected to be affected. About 1,800 workers will be keeping the stairs and platforms clear of snow. Third-rail heaters, snow-melters and trains with snow scraper shoes are also going to be used to keep trains running. Some express lines will run local beginning Friday night so train cars can be protected from the elements.
All scheduled weekend work on the subway is canceled, including the planned 7 train shutdown. Stations that would have been closed for planned weekend work will be open, unless the storm weakens significantly or moves away. This does not include the longer-range outages like the N train stations in Brooklyn, which remain closed.
Bus service should only face minimal impact. The MTA will be replacing long articulated buses with shorter vehicles starting Friday night. Buses will also be equipped with snow tires and chains, and the MTA will use 37 snow-fighting vehicles to keep stops and routes clear.
Long Island Railroad service could be curtailed or suspended if there are blizzard-like conditions. The MTA says that changes could be likely if there are sustained winds over 39 mph, whiteout conditions, frozen switches or loss of power to electrified rails. The MTA says it is rolling out snow-fighting assets to keep trains running to and from the island. See the latest LIRR alerts here.
Metro-North Railroad service could be cut back or suspended. The railroad, which runs to parts of the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut not expected to be as heavily hit, is also making preparations for the worst. See the latest Metro-North advisories here.
NJ Transit service will halt service at its usual 2 a.m. end time Saturday, but won't resume until conditions allow, Gov. Christie says. The rail also says the storm could cause changes, delays and redirections on buses, commuter lines and the Hudson-Bergen light rail.The transit service is cross-honoring tickets and passes system wide all weekend.See the latest NJ Transit alerts here.
Amtrak has announced several changes to rail service. Acela Express, Northeast Regional and several other lines that run to and from New York City will operate on modified schedules. See the latest Amtrak alerts here.
New York City cabs will be operating and available as long as there is no travel ban, according to the Taxi and Limousine Commission. But as officials have urged, people should not be on the roads if they can avoid it.
Nikki AngeliQue Beauchamp-Jackson
Baby snow angel Seth Ismael Jackson. He's 5 months old and lives in the Bronx. (Credit: Nikki AngeliQue Beauchamp-Jackson)
Nikki AngeliQue Beauchamp-Jackson
Little Seth Ismael in the snow. What a cutie! (Credit: Nikki AngeliQue Beauchamp-Jackson)
Shannon Robbins
Charlie's first snow! (Credit: Shannon Robbins)
Shana Rubin
Having fun on the sled! (Credit: Shana Rubin)
Nikita Dyall
Playing in the snow in Newark! (Credit: Nikita Dyall)
Marissa Boughal
Theresa enjoying the snow in Breezy Point! (Credit: Marissa Boughal)
Jadyn Cruz
Cool shot of the frost in Throggs Neck, the Bronx. (Credit: Jadyn Cruz)
Brenda Alicea Hernandez
Javier Jr. in the blizzard. (Credit: Brenda Alicea Hernandez)
Anthony J Spinnato
A family built a snow castle 10 feet tall in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn. (Credit: Anthony J Spinnato)
Vickie Smertenko
Mitchell from Montgomery, N.J., playing in the snow. (Credit: Vickie Smertenko)
Jonathan Dienst
NBC 4 New York reporter Jonathan Dienst's dogs, Duke and Oscar, enjoy the snow in Connecticut.
Jazmine Nosseir
The snowstorm in Bedford-Stuyvesant on Jan. 23. (Credit: Jazmine Nosseir)
tonyironhd
Rocky taking a licking out of the snowstorm on Jan. 25. (Credit: tonyironhd)
Joe Heiselmann
Squirrel on the hunt, spotted by Joe Heiselmann on Jan. 25. (Credit: Joe Heiselmann)
Getty
Fourteen-year-old Jakey enjoying a sunny after-blizzard morning on Jan. 25. (Credit: msuddell)
Laurie Chiodo
Early morning lake view in New Jersey on Jan.25. (Credit: Laurie Chiodo)
DaShawn Reynolds
Nine-year-old Mya pretending she is at the beach on Jan. 25, but snow is not the same as sand. (Credit: DaShawn Reynolds)
Kim Bates
Snow puppy running in the deep snow on Jan. 25. (Credit: Kim Bates)
Annabelle
Pug-life in the Bronx on Jan. 25. (Credit: Annabelle)
laury bsf
Snow blower on Jan. 25. (Credit: laury bsf)
laury bsf
Snowman love on Jan. 25. (Credit: laury bsf)
rgollo1
Bulldog snowman on Jan. 25. (Credit: rgollo1)
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At Bethesda Fountain Sunday, Jan. 24. (Credit: schwick_and_click/Instagram)
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Sunset and snow in Edgewater, New Jersey Sunday, Jan. 24 (credit: don_humberto_colmenares/Instagram)
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Sunset on Brookfield Place the day after the blizzard, Jan. 24 (credit: gh0uld/Instagram)
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Sunday fun day on skis at Central Park Jan. 24 (credit: faffu/Instagram)
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The Mall at Central Park Sunday, Jan. 24 (Credit: marcnus/Instagram)
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The snow cleanup in Weehawken, New Jersey Sunday, Jan. 24 (Credit: don_humberto_colmenares/Instagram)
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Snow or no, still gotta walk the dog. Flushing, Queens on Sunday, Jan. 24. (Credit: srodriguez9076/Instagram)
Central Park NYC
Central Park is a popular destination for post-snowstorm sledding.
In the storm
Yen
12-year-old boy along the Hudson River in Battery Park City during the blizzard Saturday, Jan. 23.
Kelley Dugan
New Yorkers help a cop car that got stuck in the snow (Credit: Kelley Dugan)
Richard Miller
Downtown Brooklyn during the blizzard (Credit: Richard Miller)
Suzanne Atkin
Brooke Blocker doing yoga on a deserted Ninth Avenue in Hell's Kitchen Saturday, Jan. 23. (Credit: Suzanne Atkin)
Olivia Testa
Blizzard joy! (Credit: Olivia Testa)
Irene Sanchez
Station Square in Forest Hills, Queens Saturday, Jan. 23. (Credit: Irene Sanchez)
Robin Doherty
Trent's first blizzard! (Credit: Robin Doherty)
Tamora Rush-kellett
Snowman kiss in the middle of a shut down city street. (Credit: Tamora Rush-kellett)
Olivia Testa
Fifth Avenue in the blizzard (Credit: Olivia Testa)
Mary
Junior's first storm
Meredith
East 73rd Street between 2nd and 3rd avenues on Saturday, Jan. 23.
Bridget
Fun in the snow
Holmdel Fire & Rescue Co. #2 of Holmdel, NJ standing by during the blizzard
Maria
Knee deep snow on sidewalks during the blizzard
The snow in College Point, Queens, on Saturday, Jan. 23.
58th Street and 8th Avenue was impassable the night of Saturday, Jan. 23.
Jennifer Disla
Sitting cool in Brooklyn (Credit: Jennifer Disla)
Ashley
"Helping Daddy dig out!"
Metehan
"My igloo at the front yard"
Rebekah Cross
Snow angels in Flatiron during the blizzard on Saturday, Jan. 23.
Lynn Hansen
The snow mountain that plows created near Winthrop Hospital in Mineola on Saturday, Jan. 23. (Credit: Lynn Hansen)
Alex Presha
Snow pile outside Radio City Music Hall Saturday night (Credit: Alex Presha)
Robyn Roth-Moise
Stunning day in Central Park the Sunday after the blizzard (Credit: Robyn Roth-Moise)
Kristen
Even the NBC 4 news van got stuck -- we got some help!
Bird
Austin having fun in the snow!
Lese Dunton
Central Park during the blizzard Saturday, Jan. 23 (Credit: Lese Dunton)
Lese Dunton
Upper West Side during the blizzard Saturday, Jan. 23. (Credit: Lese Dunton)
Eileen McGill
Crew cleaning the ice during the blizzard at Rockefeller Center (Credit: Eileen McGill)
Non-stop during the blizzard in Hoboken
The streets of Hoboken during the blizzard Saturday, Jan. 23
Paul Valdivia
The blizzard at Astoria Park in Queens (Credit: Paul Valdivia)
Chestnut Street in Kearny, New Jersey, Sunday, Jan. 24 (Credit: anamariedal/Instagram)
Kathleen Mags McGinley
Ella and Riley McGinley are intrepid sledders even though they are just 10 months old. Thanks to Kathleen Mags McGinley, of Long Island, for sharing this photo.
Janet Elias
Perry the Pom found someone his own size to play with!
Anne Gonzalez
Paul Valdivia
A snowy scene in Astoria Park.
Inga Sarda-Sorenson
A look at central park blanketed in snow Saturday afternoon. (Credit: Inga Sarda-Sorenson)
Inga Sarda-Sorenson
Ducks swim in central park during the 2016 blizzard (Credit: Inga Sarda-Sorenson)
Inga Sarda-Sorenson
An idyllic scene in Central Park during the 2016 blizzard. (Credit: Inga Sarda-Sorenson)
Randolph Noel
A snow castle on Cortelyou road in Brooklyn, NY. (Credit: Randolph Noel)
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"Queen of the Mountain" amid the snow on Staten Island Jan. 23.
the.ferm/Instagram
In the Financial District during the blizzard Saturday, Jan. 23. (Credit: the.ferm/Instagram)
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Daddy duties across Radio City Music Hall (Credit: iamcesarin/Instagram)
anihu7/Instagram
Fulton Center Downtown on Jan. 23.
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Walking in the West Village during the blizzard Jan. 23 (Credit: thewilliamanderson/Instagram)
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84th Street and 3rd Avenue on Jan. 23.
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Snow at 44th Street and 7th Avenue in Manhattan Jan. 23.
anihu7/Instagram
"Yo" in the blizzard at Manhattan Bridge Saturday, Jan. 23 (Credit: anihu7/Instagram)
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West 10th Street in the West Village on Jan. 23.
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181st and Wadsworth in Washington Heights on Jan. 23.
jeffro/Instagram
Dog walks in the snow during the blizzard Jan. 23 (Credit: jeffro/Instagram)
ellenellery/Instagram
Shoveling snow in Fort Greene, Brooklyn on Jan. 23.
beauty_seeeker/Instagram
Making snow angels in Plainview, Long Island on Jan. 23.
gracepapaserpahim/Instagram
44th Street in Astoria, Queens Jan. 23.
Patrice
Snow day sledding! (Credit: Patrice)
Patricia Cortes
This is how Colombians celebrate a winter storm in NY when their flights get canceled. (Credit: Patricia Cortes)
David Rodriguez
Snowboken Snow drifts and more. (Credit: David Rodriguez)
Kelly McMahon
Emergency vehicles lined up in Columbus Circle. (Credit: Kelly McMahon)
A group of pedestrians help push a taxi out of the snow at 44th Street and Eighth Avenue. (Credit: Brad Wentz)
Yen
Boy vs Jonas 12-year-old boy along the Hudson River in Battery Park City, NYC during winter storm Jonas. (Credit: Yen)
Alfredo Flores
Sixth Avenue in midtown as the blizzard hits Saturday afternoon.
Kelley Dugan
Stuck cop car with people helping to push it through the snow Video of New Yorkers helping a cop car that got stuck in the snow. (Credit: Kelley Dugan)
Mark Rauchwerger
Boy having fun in snow. (Credit: Mark Rauchwerger)
Ariel Aberizk
Molly the dog is playing and loving the storm in Long Island City! (Credit: Ariel Aberizk)
Barbara Wysocka
Enjoying the snow in Bensonhurst. (Credit: Barbara Wysocka)
Kris Sy
The snow is covering a car on Staten Island (Credit: Kris Sy)
William Menken
Penny and Jack keeping an eye on the storm. (Credit: William Menken)
Nancy leslie
Grace the black poodle has fun with her human. (Credit: Nancy Leslie)
Justin Thompson
This guy is enjoying the snow in his bathing suit! (Credit: Justin Thompson)
newyorkcitykopp/Instagram
Snow covers the steps of the Lincoln Center station Saturday, Jan. 23.
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Skiing on the streets of Port Washington, Long Island on Jan. 23.
Adam Warner
Queensboro Plaza in Long Island City as the blizzard hits Saturday afternoon.
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Snow-covered cars at Park and 90th on Jan. 23.
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Snow on the Mall in Central Park the morning of Saturday, Jan. 23.
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Snow-covered Brooklyn Jan. 23.
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Helping move a taxi at 51st Street and 8th Avenue on Jan. 23.
cbrandiwills/Instagram
Snow falling in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn on Jan. 22.
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Snow in the East Village falls on Jan. 22.
backfromthefuture2/Instagram
Snow falls on the Williamsburg Bridge Jan. 22.
cliffordwrites/Instagram
Snow on Central Park South on Jan. 22.
@nycwalktowork
Snow in Long Island City on Jan. 17.
@pizan27
Snow at Gantry Plaza State Park in Long Island City, Queens on Jan. 17.
@whitelightning011
Snow in Hell's Kitchen on Jan. 17.
@franwitte
Snow on the Upper East Side on Jan. 17.
@josephpadiernos
Snow on Staten Island on Jan. 17.
@kwitny
Snow in Washington Square Park on Jan. 17.
@ayindestevens
Snow on The High Line on Jan. 17.
@katnicole
Snow in Manhattan on Jan. 17
Gaieth Ekad
Cars completely covered in snow in Bay Ridge on Jan. 27. (Credit: Gaieth Ekad)
SCHOOLS
No school closures, delays or early releases have been announced.
United Airlines has suspended all flights at Newark-Liberty International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and John F. Kennedy International Airport Saturday ahead of the storm. Flights at most other major northeastern airports have also been canceled. Flights will resume Sunday.
No road issues yet. Several towns and cities throughout the tri-state have been preparing for days to get their fleets of salt spreaders and plows ready for the storm.
In New York City, alternate side parking is suspended Saturday, Jan. 23. Mayor de Blasio said he expects additional suspensions early next week as well.
In Hoboken, residents should move cars from snow routes by Friday night to avoid being towed. A list of emergency snow routes is available at hobokennj.org/snow. The city is providing reduced rates at municipal garages for residents.
Barnegat, New Jersey, has issued mandatory evacuations for homes near Bayshore Drive. Voluntary evacuations have been suggested throughout the town.
Brick, Manasquan, Toms River and Tuckerton Beach, New Jersey, have issued voluntary evacuations
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OTHER CHANGES
The New York City Department of Sanitation has issued a snow alert. This means that city workers are ramping up for the storm, making sure salt spreaders and plows are ready.
Trash and recycling pickup has been canceled in New York City on Saturday.
New York City's Winter Jam, planned for Saturday in Central Park, has been canceled.
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