As Tri-State Area braces for winter storm, officials warn residents to be prepared
NEW YORK — New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are bracing for snow today, and officials across the Tri-State Area are warning residents to be prepared.
The winter storm has triggered a First Alert Weather Day.
State of emergency declared in New Jersey
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency which started at 8 a.m. Sunday. Heavy snow and dangerous low temperatures are expected.
"Beginning [Sunday] morning, we are expecting a winter storm to bring heavy snow, followed by dangerously low temperatures expected on Monday and continuing through Wednesday," Murphy said in a statement. "As always, I urge all New Jerseyans to use caution, follow all safety protocols, and remain off the roads unless absolutely necessary."
In Paramus, plows are ready to go, but Saturday's rain meant the salt spreaders had to stay parked for now.
Shoppers at a Home Depot in Mahwah were preparing for the storm.
"I like it when it snows, and I like blowing the snow away with my nice big snow blower now," Regis Dale said.
"I don't know how many inches are we expecting, but we are just getting ready," said Lena Bejarano, whose family was picking up ice melt.
Weather updates and safety information can be found at ready.nj.gov.
New York snow storm preparations
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said state agencies are prepared to respond, including the over 1,600 large plow trucks in the state Department of Transportation's fleet.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams held a press conference Saturday, saying local agencies are also ready with thousands of sanitation workers prepared to work on 12-hour shifts. The Department of Sanitation is standing by with a fleet of more than 700 salt spreaders, and plows will hit the streets when accumulation reaches 2 inches.
"We're asking New Yorkers to call 311 if you need assistance for heating or pipes freezing," Adams said.
The acting sanitation commissioner touted the city's investment in technology.
"Heading into the snow event, we now have specialized vehicles and the internal management technology to ensure that no street is forgotten and that no neighborhood is left behind," Acting Commissioner Javier Lojan said.
The city activated its winter weather emergency plan, which bolsters staffing and coordination with other agencies.
On Long Island, there were massive lines Saturday at a Costco in Westbury.
"It's an eggs kind of day, milk and bread kind of storm," Hempstead Town Supervisor Donald Clavin said.
Clavin said he was happy to see the stores packed on Saturday, so people can stay off the roads Sunday.
"We're going to have a short window to really get these roads cleared because right after that, we are going to see some record cold temperatures coming in here," he said.
Temperatures are also expected to drop dangerously low as the storm moves out. At that time, the city Department of Emergency Management will activate enhanced outreach efforts to protect people experiencing homelessness.
Connecticut bracing for snow storm
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont's office said most of the state is expected to receive 4-10 inches of snow from Sunday afternoon into Monday morning.
According to the governor's office, the state Department of Transportation is ready to deploy over 600 snowplows, along with specialized snow removal equipment.
Residents are urged to stay off roads when possible, and when driving, to travel slowly and keep a safe distance from other vehicles, including plows.
A snow emergency will go into effect in Bridgeport, Connecticut on Sunday at noon, which means no parking on snow emergency streets and alternate side parking on all other streets.
Real-time information on traffic and road conditions across Connecticut can be found at CTRoads.org.