Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ISSUES TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR WEDNESDAY PM RUSH

Snow and freezing rain are expected Tuesday evening through early Wednesday morning, creating dangerous travel conditions

March 2, 2015 — The New York City Office of Emergency Management today issued a travel advisory for a wintry mix of snow, sleet, freezing rain and rain Tuesday evening March 3, through Wednesday morning March 4, 2015. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for 3:00 PM Tuesday through 2:00 AM Wednesday. Snow will develop late Tuesday afternoon and will mix with or change to sleet and freezing rain Tuesday evening. The wintry mix will then change over to rain late Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning. The rain will taper off before the Wednesday morning commute, but untreated roads and walkways are expected to still be slippery. A total of 1-3 inches of snow and a trace of ice is expected with this event. New Yorkers are asked to exercise caution and be prepared for limited visibility and slippery conditions when traveling.

Treating Icy Roadways and Snow Removal
The NYC Department of Sanitation has issued a snow alert beginning 2:00PM Tuesday March 3, 2015 and is pre-deploying 500 salt spreaders across the five boroughs to treat arterial highways, bus routes, school streets, hilly roads, etc. In addition, DSNY will have plows available to address plowing needs if necessary (more than 2 inches of accumulation).

The Department of Transportation will deploy anti-icing units to each of the East River bridges and is pre-treating pedestrian overpasses and step streets.

For Motorists

  • Drive slowly. Posted speed limits are for ideal weather conditions. Vehicles take longer to stop on snow and ice than on dry pavement.
  • Use major streets or highways for travel whenever possible; these roadways will be cleared first.
  • Four-wheel drive vehicles may make it easier to drive on snow-covered roads, but they do not stop quicker than other vehicles.
  • Keep the name and phone number of at least one local towing service in your car in case you break down or become stuck in snow.
  • If you get stuck on the road, stay with your car and contact a towing company.

For Pedestrians

  • Exercise caution and avoid slippery surfaces; some ice may not be visible. Wear sturdy boots that provide traction to reduce slipping.
  • Have a heightened awareness of cars, particularly when approaching or crossing intersections.
  • Seniors should take extra care outdoors to avoid slips and falls from icy conditions.

More Information

For more helpful winter weather tips, view NYC Emergency Management's winter weather video, visit NYC.gov/severeweather. New Yorkers are also encouraged to sign up for 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. To sign up for Notify NYC, call 311, visit NYC.gov/notifynyc, or follow @NotifyNYC on Twitter.

CONTACT:  Nancy Silvestri/Omar Bourne                     (718) 422-4888