NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ISSUES WINTER WEATHER ALERT FOR MONDAY JANUARY 6

Emergency Management


Press Release


For Immediate Release

#1-25

NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ISSUES WINTER WEATHER ALERT FOR MONDAY JANUARY 6 FOR SNOW WITH POTENTIAL IMPACTS TO THE EVENING COMMUTE
The National Weather Service Is Forecasting Under 1 Inch

Alternate Side Parking is Suspended for the Three Kings Holiday

January 5, 2025 — The New York City Emergency Management Department today issued a winter weather alert for Monday, January 6. According to the latest National Weather Service forecast, light snow will begin Monday morning and continue into the evening. Snow amounts of under an inch are expected with a reasonable worst-case scenario of 2 inches. Predicted amounts may be adjusted as the storm approaches.

Snowfall will be followed by cold conditions through the end of the week. Temperatures will be five to ten degrees below normal with daily wind chills in the teens.
“We urge New Yorkers to prepare for a challenging evening commute on Monday, as this winter weather system brings some snow accumulation early in the New Year. The snow will cause slippery road conditions, that will impact drivers and pedestrians,” said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol. “We encourage all New Yorkers to use mass transit, allow for extra travel time, monitor the forecast, and exercise caution.”

The City’s Sanitation Department has filled more than 700 salt spreaders and is already pretreating New York City’s roadways and bike lanes with liquid brine today, Sunday. The Department is prepared for the worst-case scenario, and has staff and equipment ready to deploy plows in every sector in the event of accumulations over 2 inches.

The Department of Social Services has issued a Code Blue Weather Alert for unhoused individuals in New York City in anticipation of the expected cold temperatures. A Code Blue is issued when the temperature or wind chill is forecast to drop to 32 degrees Fahrenheit between 4 p.m. and 8 a.m.

During Code Blue, experienced outreach teams work to connect unsheltered New Yorkers with resources including shelters, drop-in centers and safe havens and stabilization beds. Street homeless outreach teams will proactively contact vulnerable individuals on their Code Blue Priority Lists regularly and repeatedly to ensure their health and safety is protected during the extreme cold and to encourage them to accept services, including transportation to a shelter placement.

Safety Tips

Allow for extra travel time. New Yorkers are urged to use public transportation.

If you must drive, drive slowly. Use major streets or highways for travel whenever possible.

Vehicles take longer to stop on snow and ice than on dry pavement.

Pedestrians should exercise caution and avoid slippery surfaces; some ice may not be visible. Wear sturdy boots that provide traction to reduce slipping. Use handrails when using stairs.

Take care when walking on snow and ice, especially if you are an older adult. Older adults should take extra care outdoors to avoid slips and falls from icy conditions.

Have heightened awareness of cars, particularly when approaching or crossing intersections.

Wear layers including a hat, gloves/mittens, and a scarf to stay protected from the cold. And keep clothes and shoes dry, if a layer becomes wet, remove it.

Keep fingertips, earlobes, and noses covered if you go outside.

For more safety tips, visit NYC.gov/SevereWeather. Before and during an emergency, the City will send emergency alerts and updates to New Yorkers through various channels including Notify NYC, the City's free emergency notification system. Through Notify NYC, New Yorkers can receive phone calls, text messages, and/or emails alerts about traffic and transit disruptions and other emergencies. Sign up for Notify NYC to receive free emergency alerts and updates in your preferred language by visiting NYC.gov/NotifyNYC, calling 311 (212-639-9675 for Video Relay Service, or TTY: 212-504-4115), following @NotifyNYC on Twitter, or getting the free Notify NYC mobile application for your Apple or Android device.

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