Thursday, February 13, 2014

Winter Storm Pax Brings Snow to Brooklyn -- UPDATE: Northwest Brooklyn Could Get 10 - 14 Inches of Snow

Cadman Plaza West, Jan. 22. Photo: MK Metz
(Check the bottom of this post for updates.)

The forecast for winter storm Pax started out calling for 5 inches of snow, then for 5 -8 inches but changing to rain Thursday afternoon.

Now, NYC OEM has issued a Hazardous Travel Advisory for Thursday and Friday.

The National Weather Service has forecast 8 to 12 inches of snow accumulation through Thursday evening, with 4 to 7 inches forecast for the Thursday morning commute. [As updated below, parts of Brooklyn and Manhattan could get up to 14 inches, as the Daily News earlier reported but we didn't believe...]

The snow is forecast to change to a wintry mix or all rain in the late afternoon -- before changing back to snow with an additional 2 to 5 inches of accumulation Thursday evening.

Those just west of the snow changeover line will get hit with a lot more snow, while those east of it (Long Island, possibly parts of Brooklyn) will get more rain. Forecasters don't yet know for sure where that line will fall.

Coastal areas may flood because the storm will hit during high tide.

Tomorrow night, the rain will freeze and turn slick, and strong winds could knock down tree limbs covered with heavy snow and ice.

Alternate side is canceled, but meter rules remain in effect.

Experts say don't drive, don't walk on ice or under trees, and don't even go outside if you don't have to.

Schools are OPEN, field trips are canceled.

UPDATE --1:30 a.m. Thursday:
The MTA says it has activated all its storm-fighting forces across New York City Transit subways and buses, Metro-North Railroad, Long Island Rail Road and MTA Bridges and Tunnels. "All MTA services are subject to being delayed, curtailed or suspended during a storm as significant as the one currently forecast. MTA personnel are preparing for the possibility of snow and ice building up overnight and possible high winds," and customers are urged to monitor the MTA alert page for service status before leaving home Thursday.

UPDATE 2 -- 1:42 a.m. Thursday:
To request that your street be replowed, the city has an online replow form here.

UPDATE 3 -- 2:00 a.m. Thursday:
The Department of Sanitation issued a ‘snow alert' at 1 a.m. DSNY personnel have begun their initial equipment readiness tasks, including loading salt spreaders, attaching plows when necessary, preparing tire chains and notifying supplementary personnel as needed.

UPDATE 4 -- 2:20 a.m. Thursday:
The latest National Weather Service precip map shows that northwestern Brooklyn and Manhattan could get hit with from 10 - 14 inches, while the usually harder-hit southeastern Brooklyn and Long Island could get "only" 8 - 10 inches, depending, again, on where the snow/rain changeover line falls.

UPDATE 5 -- 2:30 a.m. Thursday:
The weather Friday: Sunny and 40 degrees!
Goodnight all.

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