Winter Storm Stella is expected to hit the Northeast, including New York City, by late Monday. New York City is expected to receive 20 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service. Winter storm warnings have been issued by the Weather Service for most of the Northeast region of the United States, while indicating the possibility of rain and sleet by the end of it.
For New Yorkers, inclement weather is nothing new. That said, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has declared that it will suspend its above-ground subway services in the city on Tuesday morning. The announcement was made by Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday, according to The New York Times. Underground MTA services will go on as scheduled for now.
On Monday morning, the Weather Service updated its blizzard watch to a blizzard warning, and said that New York City should expect 20 inches of snow; this could possibly break a record set back in March 1888. Snowfall is expected to start in the city late Monday, and will pick up speed during the night. By Tuesday morning, the forecast indicates the likelihood of blizzard conditions across all five boroughs. Winds may pick up speed up to 30 mph.
Due to the snowfall, train services for the Long Island Railroad as well as Metro-North Railroad are going to be affected, according to Cuomo, the New York Times reported. Public schools will also be closed on Tuesday.
This is not the first time that transportation authorities have declared the suspension of activities. In January 2016, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority carried out some underground service while halting above-ground transportation when the city was covered under 26 inches of snow.
Traveling during Winter Storm Stella will be difficult. According to The New York Post, AccuWeather senior meteorologist Tom Kines said, "Travel will be poor at best, if not impossible. If you have the option tomorrow of staying put, I would definitely recommend that. And if you try to fly by air tomorrow, forget it — not happening."
In case you're curious about this potentially devastating snowstorm, you can learn more by reading up on predictions for Winter Storm Stella. From possibly undergoing "bombogenesis" to potentially causing coastal flooding along the Jersey Shore, the Delmarva Peninsula and Long Island, this is one mean storm worth preparing for.
