ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY – Governor Hochul today urged New Yorkers to prepare for a storm system that could bring heavy snow, gusty winds and locally moderate coastal flood impacts beginning late Monday night and continuing through the Tuesday morning commute, which will likely cause potentially dangerous driving conditions. Parts of the Mid-Hudson Region could see up to 6-8 inches of snow, with parts of the lower Mid-Hudson expected to receive up to 12 inches of snow, and areas in the Capital and Southern Tier regions potentially receiving 4-6 inches of snow. The New York City and Long Island regions could see up to 1-3 inches of snow and wind gusts up to 40 mph, as well as localized coastal flooding conditions, especially during high tides Monday night and Tuesday. Governor Hochul urged New Yorkers to pay attention to the weather forecast for their area and be aware of changing conditions and impacts as the forecast is updated over the weekend, including potentially hazardous travel and potential power outages.
“As New Yorkers are preparing to celebrate Super Bowl Sunday, we are tracking a developing storm that will impact a substantial area of New York into the early part of the week,” Governor Hochul said. “I have directed State agencies to mobilize in preparation for this storm and urge everyone to watch for weather and travel updates as it develops.”
For the Capital, Mid-Hudson, Southern Tier, New York City and Long Island regions, precipitation is forecast to start as rain for some and then turn to snow by late Monday night with the heaviest snowfall on early Tuesday morning. Snowfall rates could reach up to one inch per hour at times. Slippery, hazardous travel is likely for the Tuesday morning commute in impacted areas. Snow is forecast to continue through Tuesday evening and wind gusts up 40 mph along the coast will start early Tuesday morning and continue into the afternoon.
Winter Storm Watches have been issued for parts of the State in advance of the storm and more may be issued as the forecast develops. New Yorkers are encouraged to sign up for emergency alerts by subscribing to NY Alert at alert.ny.gov, a free service providing critical emergency information to your cell phone or computer. For a complete listing of weather alerts and forecasts, visit the National Weather Service website at alerts.weather.gov.
Agency Activities
New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services
The Division‘s Office of Emergency Management is in contact with local counterparts and is prepared to facilitate requests for assistance. State stockpiles are staffed and ready to deploy emergency response assets and supplies as needed.
New York State Department of Transportation
The Department of Transportation is monitoring weather conditions and prepared to respond with 3,760 supervisors and operators. All field staff are available to fully engage and respond. All residencies in impacted locations will remain staffed for 24/7 operations with operators, supervisors, and mechanics throughout the duration of the event and priority cleanup operations.
Statewide equipment numbers are as follows:
1,544 large plow trucks
150 medium duty plows
52 tow plows
36 snow blowers
339 large loaders
20 graders
For real-time travel information, motorists should call 511 or visit www.511ny.org, New York State’s official traffic and travel information source.
Thruway Authority
The Thruway Authority is monitoring the weather forecast and ready to respond with 696 operators and supervisors available. Statewide equipment numbers and resources are listed below:
363 large and medium duty plow trucks
11 tow plows
65 loaders
Approximately 124,000 tons of salt on hand
Variable Message Signs and social media are utilized to alert motorists of winter weather conditions on the Thruway.
The Thruway Authority encourages motorists to download its mobile app which is available for free on iPhone and Android devices. The app provides motorists direct access to real-time traffic information, live traffic cameras, and navigation assistance while on the go. Motorists can also sign up for TRANSalert e-mails and follow @ThruwayTraffic on X for the latest traffic conditions along the Thruway.
Department of Public Service
Utility companies regulated by the Department of Public Service have approximately 5,500 workers available statewide to engage in repair and restoration efforts for the winter weather system this weekend. DPS staff will track utilities’ work throughout the event and ensure utility companies shift appropriate staffing to regions that experience the greatest impact. If your service is interrupted, visit the DPS Utility Service Interruptions website for tips.
New York State Police
State Police is monitoring weather conditions and will deploy additional Troopers to impacted areas as needed. All State Police four-wheel drive and specialized vehicles, including snowmobiles, airboats, and utility terrain vehicles are staged, and necessary equipment is ready for immediate response as needed. All emergency power and communications equipment have been tested and are functioning appropriately.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
DEC Emergency Management staff, Environmental Conservation Police Officers, Forest Rangers, and regional staff remain on alert and continue to monitor the developing situation and weather forecasts. DEC is coordinating resource deployment with agency partners and all available assets to targeted areas in preparation for potential impacts due to heavy snow.
DEC reminds those responsible for the removal and disposal of snow to follow best management practices to help prevent flooding and reduce the potential for pollutants like salt, sand, oils, trash, and other debris in snow from affecting water quality. Disposal of snow in local creeks and streams can create ice dams which may cause flooding in nearby areas. Public and private snow removal operators should be aware of these safety issues during and after winter storms. Additional information is available online here.
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
New York State Park Police and park personnel are on alert and closely monitoring weather conditions and impacts. Response equipment is being fueled, tested, and prepared for storm response use. Park visitors should visit parks.ny.gov, check the free NY State Parks Explorer mobile app or call their local park office for the latest updates regarding park hours, openings and closings.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Officials are monitoring conditions and will strategically pre-position personnel and equipment to be able to respond to weather conditions as necessary.
New York City Transit will be watching the storm closely and activating storm desks as appropriate to have personnel in place. Workers will pre-salt and sand surfaces. Equipment and personnel will be in place to rapidly respond to snow and ice conditions, and to keep signals, switches and the third rail clear. Crews will also be on standby to remove any downed trees that fall across the tracks and other weather-related conditions.
Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad crews will have equipment on hand to be able to respond quickly as conditions warrant, including chainsaws for clearing downed trees, pumps in the event of flooded areas, identifying locations and availability of supplies for replacing damaged utility poles and crossing gates. Diesel locomotives will also be pre-positioned to minimize any potential service impacts.
For latest updates on service across the MTA transportation network, visit the MTA website and various apps including MyMTA and Train Time as well as social media channels.
Port Authority
The Port Authority monitors weather conditions across all its facilities. In the event of severe weather conditions, the agency issues regular travel alerts and updates as needed. For the latest information about Port Authority facilities, please check social media, sign up for PA alerts or download one of the PA mobile apps, including RidePATH, which provides real-time updates and alerts for PATH service.
