Queens Boulevard from 46th Street Bliss station on Dec. 17, 2020 (Michael Dorgan, Queens Post)
Dec. 17, 2020 By Allie Griffin
New York City was blanketed by the largest snowstorm in years overnight Wednesday and into Thursday morning.
The city was covered with five to eight inches of snow across the five boroughs — with some neighborhoods getting around 11 inches, according to meteorologists and city officials.
“It’s really been years since we had this kind of challenge,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said, adding that the city hasn’t seen this much snow since January 2016.
Queens saw its fair share of flakes by Thursday morning.
Astoria got about eight inches of snowfall, Jackson Heights got seven-and-a-half inches and Jamaica got a whopping 11 inches, according to the National Weather Service.
Sunnyside, 46th Street Bliss station on Dec. 17, 2020 (Michael Dorgan, Queens Post)
The city required bars and restaurants to shut down their roadside dining set-ups ahead of the storm. Restaurants, de Blasio said, will be allowed to reopen them tonight at 6 p.m.
Outdoor dining structures across the city seemed to be largely unaffected by the heavy, wet snowfall, acting Sanitation Department Commissioner Edward Grayson said.
However, Grayson warned anyone brave enough to dine out Thursday to be prepared for slushy conditions.
“Tonight, for those who are enjoying outdoor dining…all I can say is this — it might not be a night to wear your good shoes,” he said.
The Sanitation Dept. will continue snow removal Friday and alternate side parking rules will be suspended as a result.
School buildings, meanwhile, will open tomorrow for students scheduled to attend class in person.
Queens Boulevard on Dec. 17, 2020 (Michael Dorgan, Queens Post)
Queens Boulevard on Dec. 17, 2020 (Michael Dorgan, Queens Post)
45th Street on Dec. 17 (Photo: Michael Dorgan, Queens Post)
Hunters Point South Park on Dec. 17, 2020 (Michael Dorgan, Queens Post)
Hunters Point Park South on Dec. 17, 2020 (Michael Dorgan, Queens Post)
Hunters Point Park South on Dec. 17, 2020 (Michael Dorgan, Queens Post)
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9 Comments
Its the most snow accumulation for a single storm since 2016, and it’s not even officially winter yet.
Im surprised they nailed the forecast on this one so well…
Mother Nature played by the rules???
Landlords need to shovel their front sidewalks. People have things to do before the holidays and must get to places safely. I will start calling 311 today and report sidewalks that have not been shoveled.
didnt know we could do that. thanks for the heads up. 311 will be getting a ton of calls from me.
Sorry, but it’s true!
Good opportunity for a kid with a shovel to make some money. Not all property owners can shovel snow so easily.
I saw so many dog owners letting their dogs loose on the sidewalks so they can take pics during and after the snow storm. Walking your dog without a leash is illegal in NYC!
you should call the cops and wait out there in the subfreezing blizzard until they come.
Snow in December. I’m speechless.