Beginning at 5 p.m. on Monday, the city will join several other Westchester municipalities in a state of emergency, and city officials are warning residents that the conditions will make both driving and walking outside difficult on Monday night and Tuesday.
A warming center has been set up at the Armory, near the intersection of North Fifth and North Street, that will open its doors to the masses at 5:30 p.m. for those in need of shelter. While not a requirement, officials are asking homeowners to remove parked cars from city streets in an effort to aid DPW crews that are clearing roadways.
“Open air city lots can be used for temporary parking for residential parking along snow emergency streets,” Davis noted in a statement.
In addition to those precautionary steps, city officials are reminding homeowners to keep hydrants shoveled out and clear for the fire department, and to never shovel snow into the street, a violation of the city code that “will be strictly enforced” by the police department. Additionally, an overturned can should be placed over the fuel cap of oil lines in case a delivery is necessary.
According to the National Weather Service, there will be “blizzard like conditions” beginning on Monday afternoon and continuing through Tuesday night. As many as 16 inches of snow may fall overnight, with an additional seven to 11 inches expected on Tuesday. There will be blustery winds, with gusts reaching 35 mph and temperatures hovering around 25 degrees.
“The major storm heading toward our area is expected to hit hard later this evening,” Davis said. “High winds and low visibility during projected whiteout conditions will make driving and walking dangerous. The city is encouraging motorists to stay off the roads during the height of the storm and is encouraging everyone to stay indoors unless it is absolutely necessary to go outside.”
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