NYC Sanitation Crews Plow 99% Of Streets

More than 2,600 New York City sanitation workers fanned out across the five boroughs before dawn, steering plows down buried avenues and spreading salt over wind-whipped asphalt as the Great Blizzard of 2026 tightened its grip.

By midday, crews had plowed 99% of city streets at least once and prepared to do it again.

“At this point, we’ve plowed 99% of New York City streets at least once, and we’ll be continuing this day and night, day and night, day and night, until the streets are clear and passable,” Vincent Gragnani, press secretary for the New York City Department of Sanitation, said.

The department deployed 2,600 workers on 12-hour shifts, operating roughly 700 salt spreaders and more than 2,000 plowing vehicles.

Another 2,600 workers were scheduled to take over at 6 p.m. for the overnight shift. Roughly 1,000 emergency snow shovelers joined them to clear crosswalks, fire hydrants and pedestrian infrastructure.

“For this storm, we activated them last night,” Gragnani said. “They were out there starting to clear this pedestrian infrastructure that’s just so important for people to use getting around the city.

Coney Island recorded 16 inches of snow. Mott Haven saw 15 inches. Central Park measured just under 10 inches. Winds gusted between 40 and 60 mph, pushing snow back onto freshly plowed streets.

“We can plow a street, and then moments later, wind is blowing the snow right back onto it,” Gragnani said. “I also understand we have heavy bands of snow just sort of sitting over the area right now.”

City officials closed streets, bridges, tunnels and highways to vehicular and e-bike traffic for hours Sunday morning, permitting only essential and emergency travel. The travel ban remained in effect until at least noon. Coastal flood warnings lifted at 5 a.m.

Subway trains ran with delays and suspensions on multiple lines. The Long Island Rail Road halted service. Metro-North Railroad operated with delays and partial suspensions. Thousands of customers lost power across the city.

Schools canceled classes citywide after Mayor Zohran Mamdani received state approval to suspend remote learning requirements.

Officials urged residents to check on vulnerable neighbors. Anyone who sees a person experiencing homelessness in need of shelter is directed to call 311 so outreach teams can respond.

Temperatures are expected to remain more moderate after the storm, avoiding the deep freeze that followed the previous system, Gragnani said.

Outside, plows circled back over the same streets, blades scraping pavement as snow continued to fall.