New York officials say that state-controlled highways and parkways will be shut down by 10 p.m. on Monday night due to the intense weather forecast.
The officials made the announcement during the press conference on Monday afternoon.
Governor Andrew Cuomo said that even major highways such as the New York Thruway and the Long Island Expressway could be shut down before rush hour, and urged people to drive home as early as possible.
“The National Weather Service has issued a severe winter storm warning from Albany to New York City including the entire New York City metro area, beginning today through Tuesday night,” the New York State Thruway says in a warning on its website.
“Heavy snow, high winds and poor visibility are expected. Motorists are encouraged to avoid travel in the impacted areas.”
Some roads in the city will also be closed, though those have not been specified.
The city will have sanitation workers in 12-hour shifts working with 500 salt spreaders and 1,500 snow plows, reported NBC.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said that government agencies are planning for at least two feet of snow.
Check out an Associated Press story below.
NYC supermarket shelves empty out
NEW YORK—Across New York City, supermarket shelves were emptying out as shoppers hustled to buy last-minute supplies.
Shopping cart gridlock descended Monday at Fairway, the gourmet grocery on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
The meat shelves were all but bare.
Nervous, annoyed customers shoved past each other. One frustrated woman muttered, “I can’t take this.”
Outside on Broadway, the checkout line stretched for a block as the wind and snow picked up.
Store employees said Fairway was busier than it is even for Christmas.
Myriam Zecco wasn’t there because of the storm. She was on her regular Monday shopping excursion.
She laughed as she watched the crowd scene, observing that “Fairway is not going to disappear.”
