Blizzard brings massive snow totals to NYC, Tri-State Area

The Long Island Rail Road will resume service on six branches starting 4 a.m. Tuesday. 

Those branches are Ronkonkoma, Huntington, Babylon, Oyster Bay, Montauk and Port Washington. 

• Montauk service will be limited to trains between Speonk and further west
• Oyster Bay will operate westbound in the morning and eastbound after the morning rush hour

Metro-North Railroad will operate on a Saturday schedule on the Hudson, Harlem and New Haven Lines, with about 2/3 of regular services. 

As for the New York City subway, some express service will continue to run locally, and there will be modified service in the Rockaways. 

Efforts continue to restore Staten Island Railway service. 

For the latest on rail conditions around our area, click here. 

Public libraries across New York City will reopen Tuesday. 

The Brooklyn Public Library, New York Public Library, and Queens Public Library all say they'll be open Tuesday. 

NYPL locations will open at noon and close at their normal hours. 

Brooklyn Public Library's Central library will be open from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. All other branches will open at 1 p.m. 

Queens Public Library Central and Flushing libraries will open from 10 a.m.-8 p.m., and all other branches will be open from 1 p.m.-6 p.m. 

The New York City Parks Department has received nearly 1,300 requests for tree services during the storms, including 545 reports of downed trees. 

Many of those reports, however, may be duplicates. 

Crews are working 12-hour shifts to check trees throughout the city. 

Tree conditions can be reported to 311. 

As of 4:15 p.m. 

• JCP&L had 44,583 outages
• PSEG LI had 10,468 outages
• Con Ed had 3,065 outages
• PSE&G had 1,245 outages
• Orange & Rockland had 172

The blizzard warning that has been in effect for New York City and the surrounding area has expired, according to the National Weather Service. 

While the worst of the  storm has blown out of the New York City area, delays at area airports meant its impact was certain to linger. 

As of 4 p.m.: 

• At Newark Liberty International Airport, there were 1,002 cancellations, and 12 delays. 
• At John F. Kennedy International Airport, there were 1,117 cancellations and 17 delays. 
• At LaGuardia Airport, there were 1,034 cancellations and 2 delays. 

A petition on Change.org had drawn tens of thousands of signatures asking for the mayor to reconsider and have classes be held remotely. City Councilmember Frank Morano was among those asking for the decision to be reconsidered. 

"Staten Islanders have lived through the blizzards of 1996 and 2016," Morano saud. "We know what a true dig-out storm looks like. This is one of them." 

Morano said his office has gotten calls from parents and teachers expressing safety concerns. 

Read more here.

We have a new leader in the race for the most snow during the nor'easter that socked the Tri-State Area on Sunday into Monday.

Central Islip in Suffolk County recorded 31 inches, nudging just past neighbor Babylon, which received 29.5 inches.

The Wildlife Conservation Society said its zoos, which include the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo and New York Aquarium, will remain closed Tuesday.

NJ Transit will start getting back in action on Monday afternoon, with limited service beginning to ramp up after 4 p.m.

Gov. Mikie Sherrill and the agency said Newark Light Rail and River Line were to resume on Sunday schedules at that time, while Hudson-Bergen Light Rail was to start up again on a weekend schedule at 6 p.m.

In addition, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority was in the process of returning speed limits to normal on the Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway. Both had been reduced to 35 mph during the nor'easter, though the Turnpike was not included in the state's travel ban that ended earlier Monday.

Click here for more on the resumption of NJ Transit service.

The storm brought enough snow for some folks to build a snowman right in the heart of Times Square, the Crossroads of the World. 

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he wasn't aware of any fatalities related to Monday's blizzard. 

He discussed outreach efforts by Department of Homeless Services personnel, saying more than 150 placements had been made during the storm. There were no involuntary removals. 

Mamdani had come under criticism following deaths after the prior winter storm and bitter cold snap that followed. 

"I'm pleased to announce that based on clear guidance and clear assessment of conditions, all schools will be fully open and operational tomorrow," Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels said. "The team efforts have been nothing short of extraordinary. Normal programming and extracurricular activities will resume." 

"I hope everyone had a good extended holiday break," Samuels said. "It's OK for you to pelt me as well." 

Click here for more about the decision to reopen schools tomorrow.

The New York Blood Center said Monday's blizzard is likely to cause them to lose nearly 3,000 donations due to the storm. 

That's because blood drives Sunday and Monday were shut down due to the storm. 

The New York Blood Center is asking eligible donors in New York and New Jersey to make a donation when it is safe to do so to help make up for the shortfall. 

For more information, click here. 

NICE Bus service in Nassau County resumed as of 2 p.m. 

The following routes are running every half hour: 

• N4 
• N6
• N15
• N22
• N24
• N70/72

All other routes are operating hourly. 

"Due to the continuing impacts from the blizzard and local travel restrictions still in place, Broadway theatre owners and producers have come to the consensus that performances tonight (Monday, February 23) will be canceled," The Broadway League said in a statement. "For questions about exchange or refund policies, theatregoers should contact their point of purchase directly." 

The monster snowstorm that hammered the Tri-State Area on Sunday into Monday is now the ninth biggest in New York City history. As of 2:30 p.m., 19.7 inches have fallen in Central Park, which is just 0.1 inches less than what fell on Feb. 16-17, 2003, and just 0.3 inches less the seventh-place storm, from Dec. 26-27, 2010.

For more information on snow totals, click here. 

The statewide travel ban in New Jersey has been lifted, New Jersey State Police said. 

Motorists were urged to avoid unnecessary travel however. 

Some localities may still have travel bans in place. 

A travel ban in Hoboken, N.J. has been extended through 4 p.m., officials announced. 

CBS News New York's Ali Bauman talks about the challenges of spending hours in the snow covering the storm. 

Connecticut hasn't been hit as hard as New York City, Long Island and the Jersey Shore, but it still has received significant amounts of snow.

The Fairfield County town of New Fairfield leads the way with nearly 20 inches, followed by New Milford in Litchfield County with 18.

A travel ban in New York City was allowed to expire Monday at noon, Mayor Mamdani said. 

A hazardous travel advisory remains in place until midnight. 

Non-essential vehicles are urged to remain off the road. 

"These are dangerous conditions. Not only is snow continuing to fall, accumulating snow and refreezing have made it hazardous to travel," Mamdani said. "If you can, remain indoors. If you must leave your home, please rely on public transit." 

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said alternate side parking will be suspended through the week in the wake of Monday's blizzard. 

For more on that, click here.

New York City Public Schools will be back in session as normal Tuesday, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced. 

Mamdani made the announcement Monday afternoon.

"I hope our students enjoy their snow day today, and stay warm and safe throughout, but I do have some tough news to share. School will be in person tomorrow. You can still pelt me with snowballs when you see me," Mamdani said. 

Click here for more information.

NYC Mayor Mamdani announced that due to the historic nature of the storm, temporary cleaners can now make $30 an hour. 

"Parts of Staten Island are being hit hardest by this storm," Mamdani said. 

Up to 1,800 workers per shift can now be deployed. 

You can register by clicking here.   

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said most models suggest the worst of the storm has passed but more snow is on the way. Watch his update live in the player above. 

Mamdani asked New Yorkers to stay indoors in if they can. 

Snow totals continue to climb across the region. 

Long Island's Babylon is top of the heap with 29.5". 

Carlstadt, N.J. comes in second with 27.9". 

Freehold, N.J. has 26". 

Staten Island's Grassmere has 24.1". 

Whitestone, N.Y. clocked in with 21.5". 

Peekskill, N.Y. is showing 18". 

For more on snow totals, click here.

A Melville, Long Island family wasn't letting a power outage get them down. Check out Jennifer Bisram's report in the video above. 

The mandatory travel restriction is now lifted, but drivers are still encouraged to stay off the roads.

The ban started at 9 p.m. Sunday and lasted until noon Monday.

Officials are warning residents to avoid unnecessary travel as conditions are still hazardous in parts of the state. 

"Some roadways remain snow-covered, visibility is limited in some areas, and crews continue working to clear roads and restore safe travel," a statement read. 

Officials extended the travel ban for Hoboken until 4 p.m.

"The Hoboken Police Department will be enforcing the travel ban, and violators are subject to summonses," a statement read. "Please stay home unless you are an exempt essential worker."

The ban will allow snowplow crews to continue clearing the roads. It will also allow first responders to address emergencies quickly, officials said. 

The city travel ban for Yonkers has been extended until 6 p.m. Monday as snow blankets the area, according to Mayor Mike Spano.

"Travel conditions continue to be dangerous as wind and snow rips through our region. Our city crews are out in force, combating very tough, whiteout conditions, clearing our primary roads," Spano said. "Roads need to remain open and passable for first responders and essential workers. Please heed our call and remain off the road for the remainder of the day."  

City officials also remind residents that there is no garbage collection on Tuesday. Alternate Side Parking is also suspended Tuesday and Wednesday, but parking meters remain in effect. 

Drivers must relocated cars immediately if they are parked on designated Snow Emergency Routes:

• Warburton Avenue / Main Street – east side, from Old Red Gate corner Harriman to the north city line
• North Broadway / Getty Square – east side, to the north city line
• Riverdale Avenue – west side, from the city line north to Main Street
• South Broadway / Getty Square – west side, to the south city line
• Ashburton Avenue – south side, from Warburton Avenue east to Yonkers Avenue
• Nepperhan Avenue / South Broadway – east side, to Old Nepperhan Avenue
• Saw Mill River Road / Ashburton Avenue – east side, north to the city line
• Tuckahoe Road / Saw Mill River Road – south side, to the city line
• Yonkers Avenue / Nepperhan Avenue – south side, to the Mount Vernon city line
• McLean Avenue / South Broadway – north side, to Bronx River Road
• Elm Street – from Nepperhan Avenue to Prescott Avenue

Free parking is available at various locations.

• School 25 – 579 Warburton Ave
• Nepperhan Community Center – 342 Warburton Ave
• Untermyer Park – 945 N Broadway
• Hudson River Museum – 511 Warburton Ave
• Coyne Park – 771 McLean Ave
• Grinton I. Will Library – 1500 Central Park Ave
• Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts – 810 Yonkers Ave

Scott Padgett has the First Alert Weather noon update on the storm. 

Westchester County officials said the road ban will last until 6 p.m. Monday.

Roads are closed to everyone except essential workers, including police, fire, media, utility and other medical personnel. 

A DoorDash spokesperson said its services will be suspended longer because of hazardous conditions. 

Operations will be suspended until at least 2 p.m. Monday, according to the update.

Spokesperson Julian Crowley previously said they are trying to keep employees safe and off the streets.

"We're closely monitoring conditions and will resume as soon as it's safe to do so," he said. 

The travel ban has been lifted in Long Island's Nassau County. 

"I have lifted the travel ban because there are businesses that want to open, and it's important that they open," Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said. "But we would ask people who don't have to go to work to please stay home, you'll be safe there. The roads are still treacherous. If you have to go out, go slow. Take your time. And it's probably best not to go out if you don't have a four wheel drive vehicle, because the probability right now is on some of the interior roads you will get stuck." 

Blakeman said main thoroughfares are open and passable, but still slippery. 

Blakeman said he didn't things would be "anywhere near close to normal" until Tuesday morning. 

"It's going to take a couple of days to get back to normal," Blakeman said. 

Dangerous wind chills and icy sidewalks will also impact residents' furry friends in the New York and New Jersey area.

Experts have a list of safety tips to help keep pets safe during and after the storm.

• Watch for antifreeze spills
• Protect paws from ice melt and salt. Wipe paws after walks, consider pet-safe ice melts or booties
• Never let dogs chew on ice or sticks
• Limit exposure during extreme cold
• Provide warm, draft-free shelter. Outdoor pets need insulated housing with dry bedding and access to unfrozen water

The travel ban in Suffolk County has been extended to 3:30 p.m., County Executive Ed Romaine announced. 

The travel ban will be lifted at 5 p.m. for Rockland County, but residents are still asked to stay home, officials say.

County Executive Ed Day asked people to let the plows do their job.

"This does not mean, however, that we want people to go out and do donuts with their cars," he said.

Day encouraged residents to do everything they can to stay home. 

The powerful snow storm has left thousands of customers without power throughout NYC, N.J. and the Tri-State Area. 

The most significant impacts are in New Jersey. 

Keep in mind, a "customer" as far as many utilities are concerned can encompass a building, meaning more people are typically impacted than total number of customers. Even if a home is a single customer, it may contain multiple family members, for example. 

JCPL 

• 69,159 affected customers

PSEG (NJ)

• 3,972 affected customers

PSEG (LI)

• 16,426 affected customers

CON EDISON

• 3,770 affected customers

ORANGE AND ROCKLAND

• 615 affected customers

Parts of Long Island and New Jersey are reporting snow totals of more than two feet.

East Islip takes the cake with the most at 26.5 inches. 

New York City isn't far behind, as the major blizzard rages on into the afternoon.

For a full list of accumulations, click here.  

Some New York City residents took to the streets to start digging their cars out of the snow.

People were spotted in Brooklyn, armed with their shovels, to tackle the 17.4 inches of snow already on the ground. 

"We're working to clean our 165 train stations. We're working with Amtrak to get the infrastructure back together. As you know, the snow is still coming. It's a once-in-a-generation snowstorm, so we're trying our level best to get the system back together," NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri told CBS News New York's Mary Calvi. 

Kolluri said there's no timeline. 

"The reason is - look, I want to be crystal clear on this - I want to do this in a way that's safe for our customers and our crews," Kolluri said.

Kolluri said he'd make the announcement when the time was right, but outlined the challenges.

"We have plow trains out there just like there are plows on our roads. We're trying to get the switches all working again. There are some places where we don't have power because trees have fallen on our catenary system," Kolluri said. "On buses, it's a little more complicated. I have 19,000 bus stops and shelters throughout the state of New Jersey that are mostly on county and municipal roads. Those need to be cleaned by them." 

Kolluri said train service would most likely be restored Tuesday, but it's still to be determined. 

Long Island has been in the bullseye of the major blizzard, with some parts already getting more than two feet of snow. 

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino said he's been in office for nine years, and this is the worst snowstorm he could remember. 

"This is extremely dangerous. I saw two accidents while driving here. People shouldn't be on the roads. The roads are just for emergency responders, our essential employees," he said.

Nassau County officials also extended the non-essential travel ban as the storm continues. 

Saladino cautioned against shoveling snow Monday morning. He advised waiting until the afternoon until the snow stops falling. 

Residents can help clear sidewalks by shoveling the snow back onto their lawn so the snowplows don't have to clear the area multiple times. 

With a power outage reported in the Rockaways, New York City Emergency Management opened warming centers. 

They are located at: 

• Far Rockaway High School, 8-21 Bay 25th St
 
• Beach Channel High School, 100-00 Beach Channel Dr
 
• P.S. 43, 160 Beach 29th St   

The city is hiring emergency snow shovelers to help fight the storm. The pay starts at $19.14 an hour and climbs to $28.71 per hour after 40 hours of work in a week. 

In order to be eligible, you have to be: 

• Age 18 and up
• Eligible to work in the U.S.
• Able to perform heavy physical labor

Registration requires: 

• Two small photos
• Two forms of ID
• Social Security card

You can register by clicking here.   

You can also track citywide plow progress by clicking here. 

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is dealing with the second storm since taking office, within just weeks of each other. 

He said officials have not made a decision on the status of the city's schools for Tuesday. Students were given a traditional snow day on Monday after they had a remote learning day during the last storm in January. 

Mamdani said officials will give an update on schools Monday afternoon. 

The mayor also said outreach workers have been trying to connect New Yorkers experiencing homelessness to resources such as mobile clinical vans, warming buses and shelters. 

To help with cleanup, an additional 500 to 600 snow shovelers are helping clear bus stops, fire hydrants and sidewalks. 

Mamdani also mentioned that the temperatures during the week will be a little warmer, which will help melt the snow. Unlike the last storm, where a bitter cold spell followed, resulting in mounds of ice and snow lingering for weeks. 

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said New Yorkers have followed the travel ban so far. 

"This is where I'm so proud of New Yorkers. No, we do not have major issues, because they heeded our warnings," said New York Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Hochul said the call to stay home Sunday and Monday resonated, and there have been no major incidents as a result so far. 

"Really, they've responded so well that our roads have been cleared. No major accidents to speak of, just what you'd expect, a couple of incidences involving tractor trailers. But nothing where we have a situation where you often see in these major storms, where a truck has jackknifed across a road, and is blocking traffic, and you have pileups that can last for days. I mean, we are nowhere close to that scenario because New Yorkers did stay home, they allowed us to clear the road with the plows, and we're going to continue that effort. So I think we're in better shape than we would have been," Hochul said. "We're not through it yet, and Mother Nature can be pretty fearsome." 

Hochul said she thinks the storm will ultimately be in the "top five for snowfall amounts for New York City," calling it an "historic storm." 

Hochul said cleanup time will vary by neighborhoods, but highways will be cleared quickly since plowing has been underway from the start. 

As of 10 a.m.:

• There have been nine total delays so far Monday and 957 cancellations Newark Liberty International Airport. 
• There have been two total delays so far Monday and 1,029 cancellations at LaGuardia Airport. 
• There have been 17 total delays at John F. Kennedy International Airport and 1,097 cancellations. 

As crews work to clear the streets and crosswalks in Times Square, visitors are taking advantage of the major snowstorm. 

CBS News New York's Elijah Westbrook spoke with a family who traveled from France.

"It's incredible," a woman said. 

The family of three was in a deserted Times Square as the blizzard dumped snow onto the city. Her son was very excited and said he loves to make snowballs.

"I think all the French people would like to be in our place," the woman said. 

"Travel is extremely treacherous," Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said. "Since this storm began, just in the western part of Suffolk County, the police have reported over 130 accidents. This is a very dangerous storm. If you do not have to go out, do not go out." 

Visibility remains limited and snow is continuing to fall, Romaine said. Winds are also a problem. 

"In fact in Montauk, Montauk Point, at the lighthouse, we've clocked 85 mile an hour winds. The highest winds in the Metropolitan Area," Romaine said. 

Concerns remain about flooding as well, Romaine said. 

"Our plows are going to be out there," Romaine said. "They will continue throughout the storm and well into tomorrow and Wednesday." 

Romaine said so far, fortunately, there haven't been many power outages in Suffolk County. 

Some New Yorkers are making the most of the blizzard conditions. 

A snowman was spotted in a Brooklyn park while another person was out on skis in Central Park. Another man was seen in Central Park with his dog, as they both walked through the thick snow. 

"We extended the travel ban until noon after our early morning brief really indicated that roads are not safe," New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill told CBS News New York's Chris Wragge. "We're hearing whiteout conditions." 

Snow continues to fall across the Garden State, Sherrill said, and shore could see another six inches of snow yet. 

"We're also seeing wind, really big wind gusts, which cause whiteout conditions on the road," Sherrill said. 

Tree cutters are working on removal due to concerns of heavy wet snow and high winds bringing down vulnerable branches. 

"My number one priority is keeping people safe, of course. And I'll tell you, even at noon, even if we lift that, that doesn't mean that the back roads are going to be passable. I mean, many of these municipalities, you're still going to find unplowed streets and difficulty getting around, so it will still be very dangerous to be out without four wheel drive or without a vehicle that can get through some of this. So the best bet right now is to stay home," Sherrill said. 

Sherrill said some plow operators were having trouble seeing the side of the road or guardrails. 

Sherrill said the entire state, with few exceptions, has seen "significant, significant snow." 

Thousands of Long Islanders are in the dark as PSEG crews work to restore power during the storm.

More than 14,500 customers are currently without power, according to the outage map. 

PSEG Long Island official Larry Torres said about 10,000 customers have had power restored since Sunday.

"In terms of restoration times, we are working under some really rough conditions," he said. "With the snow, it's difficult to get to the job locations quickly, but we are out there."

The system is holding up pretty well despite the heavy winds, Torres said. 

He advises residents to charge devices in case the power goes out. Most importantly, he cautions drivers to stay away from downed power lines if they are on the road. Anyone who sees them should call PSEG immediately. 

The largest storm in years is delivering some major snow totals.

A New Jersey town has reached two feet of snow, as other parts of the Tri-State Area continue to be inundated.

Here's a look at the big reports: 

"I think it's going really well," Acting DSNY Commissioner Javier Lojan said. 

Lojan praised the efforts of night shift workers in how they started the battle against the snow. 

"Thankfully, the mayor enacted a travel ban, so that helped us greatly after 9 p.m. Because there were quite a bit of cars on the road before that, and then everyone heeded the warning, and then we were able to operate a lot smoother," Lojan said. 

The wind is creating challenges. 

"The concern this morning are snow drifts. So, we plow the streets, we're clearing crosswalks, bus stops. We're clearing bike lanes. What you're going to see is the winds are pushing a lot of the snow back on, and it looks like we weren't even there," Lojan said. "That's the challenge."

Lojan said emergency snow shovelers were clearing bus stops and crosswalks right away this time around, so New Yorkers should expect a "vast improvement" in snow clearance over the last storm. 

One burning conditions amid the nor'easter bringing blizzard-like conditions - is it good snow for making snow angels? Leave it to John Elliott to find out. Check out his efforts in the video above. 

Dutchess County will remain under a non-essential travel ban as high winds and more snow are forecasted throughout Monday.

County executive Sue Serino extended the state of emergency, including the travel restriction, until 4 p.m.

Government offices are closed for the day, and there will be no Dutchess County Public Transit bus service, officials said. 

"This has been a very dynamic and difficult storm, creating dangerous conditions and challenges for highway crews," Serino said. "Please stay home and stay safe."   

Officials said the country's emergency operations center and sheriff's office are still open. Highway crews are also out with more than 50 vehicles and equipment deployed to clean the roads. 

Westchester County officials are extending the current travel ban until noon. 

Roads are closed to all non-essential drivers due to hazardous winter weather conditions, including heavy snowfall and strong winds. 

It was set to expire at 10 a.m.

A travel ban that's been put in place in New Jersey has been extended until noon, the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management said. 

The agency ongoing blizzard-like conditions and heavy snowfall. 

Under the travel ban, people are urged to avoid all non-essential travel on state, county, municipal and interstate roads. The NJ Turnpike is exempt from the restriction, the NJ OEM said. 

Violators may face penalties. 

The following are exempt, according to NJOEM: 

• Emergency and public safety vehicles and personnel
• Public works and snow removal crews
• Public transportation vehicles and personnel
• Government officials conducting official business
• Utility company vehicles and personnel
• Healthcare workers and urgent medical travel
• Personnel supporting emergency shelter operations and human services facilities
• Delivery of critical medical supplies and services to healthcare facilities
• News media
• Private snow removal contractors
• Patients seeking urgent critical care and their escorts
• Travel necessary to maintain critical infrastructure and essential services, including energy, fuel, food, pharmacies, and hardware stores
• Personnel supporting airline and airport operations

"If you don't have to travel today, if you can remote work, if you can be with your kids and enjoy this snow day, it's the day to stay home. However if you need to travel, the MTA is here for you. We have the subway system running," MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said. 

Several lines that ordinarily run express are running on the local track.   

"We have temporarily lost connection to the Rockaways. That's one thing," Lieber said. "And we have a serious delay on the Staten Island Railway. But other than that, the system is running, albeit with much less frequent service because of the impact of all the snowfighting equipment that's staying on the rails." 

The bus system is also running, although there may be detours, Lieber said. 

Metro-North is running hourly service. 

Long Island Rail Road remains suspended due to high winds on Long Island. 

Double-digit snow totals are piling up across New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Some parts of New Jersey and Long Island are seeing just shy of two feet of snow as the storm continues. 

Non-essential travel is banned until noon in Suffolk County.

County Executive Ed Romaine announced the extension Monday morning. He said it could go on for longer, depending on the storm's impact. 

It was supposed to expire at 9 a.m.

A snowplow driver said he has been on the Long Island roads since Sunday night, plowing the same spots repeatedly. 

Tyler McCarthy has been cleaning the Suffolk County streets since 6 p.m. Sunday. He said his big truck with heavy tires is still slipping and sliding. 

"It's like an ice sheet out here," he said.

The snow has been falling so rapidly that he said he has to plow the same spot over and over just cause it keeps coming. 

"You couldn't see in front of us on the way in to get to the truck, and within like an hour, it just accumulated and stuck instantly," he said. "The visibility went nowhere, and you couldn't see the road, couldn't see the lanes." 

The non-essential vehicle travel ban has been extended until 11 a.m. for Nassau County. 

It was previously supposed to expire at 9 a.m.

Long Island is getting pounded with snow and high winds, creating low visibility on the roads. CBS News New York's Ali Bauman is in Hauppauge, where she is seeing firsthand how strong the winds are.  

"As the wind goes in different directions, it forms these hills of snow, which is also what's making the roads so dangerous in addition to the visibility," she said. 

A father from Staten Island ventured into the storm to take his daughter to work early Monday morning.

The man named John said his daughter is a nurse in Brooklyn, so she needs to get to work. He ran into CBS News New York's Naomi Smith while he was picking up coffee for the two of them.

"I told her that if you have to go in, I'll take you over the bridge and get you there in time," he said.

The wind gusts will range from 40 to 50 mph throughout the day in New York City, whipping the snow around.

"Winds are the major elements," said CBS News New York Meteorologist Tony Sadiku. "That's what makes the visibility horrendous."

Snowplows were out and about Sunday night, starting to clean up the roads as the area braces for more than a foot of snow.

Many people were also outside Sunday night. Some were spotted strolling around in Central Park. Others were spotted bundled up, holding umbrellas while taking pictures in Times Square. 

Tens of thousands of customers across the Tri-State Area are reporting power outages early Monday morning.

Most are in New Jersey, with 57,067 customers out of service, according to the Jersey Central Power and Light outage map.

Here are the other outages across New York and New Jersey.

• Con Edison: 2,649 customers
• PSEG on Long Island: 4,332
• PSEG in New Jersey: 4,690
• Orange and Rockland: 371

The blizzard is in full effect, with the New York-area airports cancelling hundreds of flights. 

Here are the latest delays and cancellations as of 4:30 a.m.

John F. Kennedy International Airport

• Delays: 14
• Cancellations: 1,083

Newark Liberty International Airport

• Delays: 9
• Cancellations: 860

LaGuardia Airport 

• Delays: 0
• Cancellations: 1,025 
  

The Long Island Rail Road said early Monday morning service will remain suspended until weather conditions improve.

For more information, please check the TrainTime app or go to the MTA website for updates.

While points south and east of New York City still have a chance to reach 24 inches of snow and areas in the Lower Hudson Valley will challenge 18 inches by the time the storm moves out of the area on Monday afternoon, the First Alert Weather Team has lowered its projected totals for the far northern and western suburbs.

The First Alert Weather Team estimates that by 1 a.m. the nor'easter hitting the Tri-State Area will be about halfway through its run. The following are current snow totals from New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, New Jersey, and Connecticut. 

The First Alert Weather Team has an updated look at the forecast between now and 1 p.m. on Monday.

Timing it out

10 p.m.-8 a.m. Monday: Snow becomes very heavy at times and may fall at rates of 2-3 inches per hour. Winds will also increase, especially at the coast, gusting 40-60+ mph at times. When combined with the weight of the heavy snow, this may lead to downed trees and powerlines. Blizzard conditions, when winds are at or above 35 mph combined with falling or blowing snow for at least three hours, could occur in many places, but especially across Long Island and at the Jersey Shore. Coastal flooding of up to 2.5 feet is likely during the hide tide cycles between Sunday night and Monday morning.

8 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday: The storm will start winding down, but snow could still fall moderately at times. It may not be completely done until the mid-to-late-afternoon hours. In general, south and east of the city is where the highest likelihood of seeing over 20 inches of snow is. Elsewhere, including in New York City, 12-18 inches, are forecasted. The strong winds will carry on through the evening hours.

With snow piling up all over New York City, the Department of Sanitation has been hard at work for hours trying to keep residents safe.

Deputy Commissioner Joshua Goodman told CBS News New York the DSNY is tackling the nor'easter head-on.

"The snow is coming down fast and furious and our plows are out in every part of the city. We got about 2,300 plows running, but it's a very fast rate of snow," Goodman said, adding, "With snow coming down one, two, three inches per hour, we're going to have to keep running those plows over and over through the night."

Goodman said he's not worried about a repeat of the last storm, when dirty chunks of frozen snow remained on streets and sidewalks for weeks.

"First of all, this is a very different storm. The Jan. 25 winter storm was followed by two weeks of deeply cold, below-freezing temperatures, necessitating the operation you saw -- the hauling, breaking up of those piles, and the melting operation," Goodman said. "This storm? It's going to be 43 degrees on Wednesday. But that is no excuse, right? We are running at full force. We've got 2,600 sanitation workers on every successive 24-hour shift. We have done a number of new things compared to the last storm. We have almost tripled the number of emergency snow shovelers who are out there being paid to clear crosswalks, hydrants and the bus stops."

To track the progress of DSNY snow removal vehicles, check out the department's plow tracker -- PLOWNYC.

To see Goodman's complete interview, please click here. 

Here are some of the top snow totals in the Tri-State Area.

New York City, Westchester County and Long Island instituted travel bans that went into effect at 9 p.m. on Sunday night due to intensifying snowfall and limited visibility.

"We are asking New Yorkers to avoid all non-essential travel. Please, for your safety, stay home, stay inside, and stay off the roads," Mayor Zohran Mamdani said.

The city's ban lasts until noon on Monday, while Westchester's runs until 10 a.m. and Long Island's ends an hour earlier.

New Jersey also has a travel ban in effect, but it does not include the New Jersey Turnpike. Drivers are allowed back on the roads in the Garden State at 7 a.m.

Here's an early look at snow totals across the Tri-State Area. 

New Jersey hasn't seen a snowstorm like this in quite a while.

Gov. Mikie Sherrill said as much during a phone interview with CBS News New York on Sunday night.

"We are expecting blizzard conditions in all 21 counties for the first time since 1996. The snow can be coming down at times from 1-3 inches an hour," Sherrill said. "As a reminder, our last bad storm in January, the snow came down at an inch an hour, so this could be up to 3 inches an hour. These will be blizzard whiteout conditions, with the winds making it worse."

Sherrill also cautioned residents about the combination of wet snow and high winds.

"These winds can be up to 60 mph, so we're also worried because have really heavy snow. This is a wet, heavy snow that will be bring down trees and branches, along with this wind, that can impact utilities," Sherrill said. "We can see wires going down, so please if you see that, stay away from it, call your public utility to fix it as soon as possible."

Gov. Sherrill's full interview can be heard here.

Service on the New York City subway C line, which serves parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn, has been suspended, the MTA announced on Sunday night.

If you lose power during the nor'easter, please refer to the following numbers to report your outage:

• National Grid:
• Electric: 800-867-5222
• Long Island (gas): 1-800-490-0045
• Metro NYC (gas): 1-718-643-4050
• Upstate (gas): 1-800-892-2345
• PSEG-LI: 800-490-0075
• Con Ed: Electric: 800-752-6633 or Gas: 800-752-6633
• Central Hudson: Electric: 800-527-2714 or Gas: 800-942-8274
• Liberty Utilities (St. Lawrence Gas) Corp.: 800-673-3301
• O&R: Electric: 877-434-4100 or Gas: 800-533-5325

Gov. Mikie Sherrill has put a "full travel ban" in place on all roads except the New Jersey Turnpike starting at 9 p.m. Sunday through 7 a.m. Monday.

Earlier Sunday, the governor issued a state of emergency, and urged residents to stay off the roads during the storm.

Due to deteriorating conditions caused by the nor'easter, NJ Transit is suspending all rail service by 9 p.m.

Some service will end prior to that time, but no trains will begin a new trip from their origin point after that time, the agency said.

Further details can be found on NJTransit.com.

Blizzard conditions are possible between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. throughout the entire Tri-State Area, including all of New Jersey and Connecticut.

A storm is considered a blizzard when wind gusts, coupled with falling or blowing snow, reach at least 35 mph and visibility is below a quarter mile for at least three hours.

Snowfall rates will ramp up to 1-2 inches per hour as the night progresses, with the potential for even heavier snow during the overnight hours.

Gov. Kathy Hochul provided details Sunday afternoon on travel bans that will go into effect in New York City, on Long Island, and in Westchester County starting at 9 p.m.

• New York City's ban runs until 12 p.m. on Monday
• Long Island's runs until 9 a.m. on Monday
• Westchester's runs until 10 a.m. on Monday

"We want people off the roads. You should be doing this voluntarily, but we have the state police who's going to enforce this, so be aware of that," Hochul said, adding, "So that means wherever you are in this region, at 9 o'clock tonight, you'll have to stay there."

The nor'easter could bring major flooding overnight, with coastal flood warnings in effect from 9 p.m.-6 a.m. from the Jersey Shore up through Long Island and Connecticut. 

One foot to three and a half feet of inundation cannot be ruled out, with greater concern in the Back Bays, western Suffolk and northern Nassau. 

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont declared a state of emergency and announced a travel ban on the state's major highways.

A commercial vehicle travel ban goes into effect at 5 p.m. The governor's office said it's not yet clear when it will be lifted, but that it was implemented in coordination with neighboring states. 

"We're no stranger to snow in Connecticut, but I'm urging everyone to take this storm and the blizzard conditions it will bring seriously," Lamont said. "During its height, we are going to experience intense winds that will cause whiteout conditions, severely limiting visibility and making motor vehicle travel very dangerous. Everyone statewide is strongly urged to avoid all unnecessary, non-essential travel. 

Emergency vehicles and essential services are not impacted by the travel ban. 

Due to the nor'easter, Newark Public Schools and the district's central office will be closed on Monday, Superintendent Roger León announced on Sunday afternoon.

As Sunday's storm continues to intensity, there's now the possibility of thundersnow hitting the Tri-State Area.

Thundersnow is a rare phenomenon but one that has been known to happen during nor'easters. The heavy snow will muffle the sound -- or thunderclap -- so it can only be heard up to about three miles.

With such an occurrence typically comes an intense amount of snowfall. The First Alert Weather Team is currently monitoring the potential for snowfall rates of up to 4 inches per hour in areas hugging the coast, including all of Long Island and the Jersey Shore.

"Thundersnow is interesting and rare," CBS News New York's Vanessa Murdock said. "It's going to be where we see the deepest purple on the radar, and that will likely happen overnight."

The Winter Storm Severity Index currently has New York City, all of Long Island and much of New Jersey as the most impacted areas by the time the system moves out of the region on Monday afternoon.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said New Yorkers should not be fooled by the light snow and rain that's been falling so far Sunday.

"The worst is yet to come. So do not take for granted that this is going to be it," Hochul said. "It's going to exceed all expectations."

The governor warned the changeover to heavy snow and a severe winter storm will happen quickly. 

"Will transition very rapidly into heavier, wetter snow, which has the capability of downing power lines, which means people will be in the dark," she said. "Long Island, New York City and Lower Hudson Valley are literally in the direct eye of the storm."

The First Alert Weather Team forecasts the storm will significantly intensify around 7 p.m.

Long Island Rail Road service will be suspended at 1 a.m. on Monday due to the nor'easter, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Sunday afternoon.

The storm, which has been projected to bring blizzard conditions and up to 2 feet of snow to parts of Long Island and New York City, is expected to intensity Sunday evening. Wind gusts in excess of 60 mph are possible in the city and Nassau and Suffolk counties.

Also on Monday, Metro-North will operate on an hourly service schedule, with weekend schedules in place on the branch lines.

NYC subways are running on a modified schedule, while the Staten Island Railway will run on a weekend schedule tomorrow.

MTA buses are likely to see delays and cancellations as travel conditions worsen, the agency added. 

Further details can be found on the MTA's website.

Where could this nor'easter rank in New York City history? It could end up being one of the 10 biggest snowstorms ever recorded. 

These are Central Park's biggest snow totals since 1869:

1. 27.5 inches Jan. 22-24, 2016
2. 26.9 inches Feb. 11-12, 2006
3. 26.4 inches Dec. 26-27, 1947
4. 21.0 inches March 12-14 1888
5. 20.9 inches Feb. 25-26, 2010
6. 20.2 inches Jan. 7-8, 1996
7. 20.0 inches Dec. 26-27, 2010
8. 19.8 inches Feb. 16-17, 2003
9. 19.0 inches Jan. 26-27, 2011
10. 18.1 inches March 7-8, 1941

This storm has a great chance of taking over the #10 spot on the list. 

NJ Transit announced bus, light rail and Access Link services will be suspended at 6 p.m. Sunday and they will not resume until it is safe. 

Rail service changes are expected to be announced later this evening, the agency said. 

Further details can be found on NJTransit.com. 

The New Jersey Department of Transportation announced a temporary 35 mph speed limit on highways starting at 3 p.m.

Mayor Mamdani has declared a state of emergency, which includes a citywide travel ban, from 9 p.m. Sunday through noon Monday. 

Streets, highways and bridges will be shut down to all traffic, including cars, trucks, scooters and e-bikes, with specific exemptions for essential and emergency services, Mamdani said. 

"New York City has not faced a storm of this scale in the last decade," he said. "We are asking New Yorkers to avoid all nonessential travel." 

Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a snow day Monday for New York City public schools. 

"The state requires us to conduct 180 days of education in a calendar year. However, we believe there are a unique set of extenuating circumstances for tomorrow's education," the mayor said. "We shared this with the state education commissioner this morning and she has granted us a waiver, for which we are incredible thankful." 

"And to kids across New York City, you have a very serious mission if you choose to accept. Stay cozy," he added. 

Libraries and other non-essential city services will also be closed. 

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romain issued a travel ban from 9 p.m. Sunday-9 a.m. Monday. 

Romaine said the ban does not apply to plow operators and other essential workers. 

The county corrected its earlier statement that incorrectly said the ban would last through 9 p.m. Monday. 

Rockland County, New York, is enacting a travel ban starting at 6 p.m. Sunday, ahead of the dangerous blizzard conditions. 

County Executive Ed Day said "all vehicles should be off the roads" by then and stay off until the storm clears. 

"This decisive action is necessary to protect lives and ensure our road crews can clear snow as quickly and safely as possible," Day said. "With blizzard conditions expected, visibility will be extremely limited and travel will become dangerous very quickly. Keeping vehicles off the roads allows plows and emergency responders to operate without obstruction. We are asking every resident to comply so we can get through this storm safely."

Emergency vehicles and certain essential personnel will still be allowed on the roads during the travel ban. 

Rockland County has a warming center available at the Dr. Robert L. Yeager Health Center in Pomona.

More than 1,000 flights have been wiped out Sunday at the New York City area's three major airports. 

According to FlightAware, as of 11:20 a.m.:

• LaGuardia Airport is showing 547 cancellations and 67 delays
• Kennedy Airport is showing 693 cancellations and 88 delays
• Newark Liberty airport is showing 435 cancellations and 69 delays

Remember to check with your airline for updated flight status alerts.

Heavy and wet snow during the nor'easter is exactly the type that can lead to power outages because the weight may snap power lines. 

Utility companies like PSE&G in New Jersey said they called in additional staff to work around the clock, but the storm's intensity could impact response times. 

"They cannot go up in the bucket trucks if the wind is above 39 miles per hour. So they'll have to wait until some of the gusts subside before they're able to go up and make some repairs," said Frank Gaffney, director of reliability and security for the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. 

If you lose power during the storm, expects say you should stay bundled up and trap in any heat by closing off unused rooms and placing towels under doors. 

Long Island is forecast to see some of the strongest parts of the nor'easter, and officials are preparing for just that. 

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said he would sign a state of emergency declaration Sunday morning, warning residents to take the storm seriously. 

"We're going to see it start possibly as rain, possibly as frozen rain. But then it's going to move very quicky to snow and we are going to get snow bands. And then we're gonna get heavy winds, which would create blizzard conditions," Romaine said. 

Officials have been urging Long Islanders to stay off the roads and avoid unnecessary travel so crews and plow and salt roadways, and so first responders can get to emergencies safely.