A potentially historic coastal storm paralyzes the metropolis of millions. By Monday noon, 34 centimeters of fresh snow was officially measured in Central Park – but only practically at halfway through the potent winter low. Heavy snowfalls are also predicted for Tuesday: the total precipitation could last more than 48 hours.
Meteorologists expected that storm “Orlena” should land in the top ranking of the largest New York snowfalls with half a meter of fresh snow – although in the end the record from 2016 (69 centimeters) will probably not be surpassed.
Local politicians outdid each other with warnings and emergency measures:
► Mayor Bill de Blasio (59) imposed a driving ban for the urban area, subway lines whose routes are above the ground have been discontinued.
► Governor Andrew Cuomo (63) warned that the storm would be “as serious as a heart attack”. The state of emergency was declared. And: “It will be two long days for us,” says the democrat. He advised everyone who can “stay home”.
In Brooklyn, a few cars slipped uncontrollably down a steep street, in Manhattan a truck came off the street.
The snowstorm also led to the closings of corona vaccination centers. However, Cuomo promised the inoculations would continue Tuesday: 1.9 million people in New York state have already been vaccinated.
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At least: Due to the corona pandemic, which had been raging for almost a year, the business, cultural and media metropolis had already switched to working from home – the result was a greatly reduced volume of traffic.
The winter chaos, however, was unmistakable in Times Square: while the fine snow fell steadily like a veil, the few cars plowed down the snow-covered Seventh Avenue. Numerous side streets were impassable after snow removal had not even started there.
The city had thrown more than 1,600 street plows into the battle against the flake eddies: But with snowfall rates of five centimeters per hour they could hardly keep up.