More Snow Coming; Critics Pounce On Cuomo, Forecasters For Drastic Blizzard Precautions

By Tom Davis (Patch Staff)

Critics have been piling on Gov. Andrew Cuomo, New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and forecasters Wednesday for issuing travel bans, making false predictions or taking other strong steps in response to the blizzard-that-wasn’t.

The criticism comes just as outlets such as the Weather Channel and the National Weather Service are saying that more snow could be coming to the Hudson Valley on Sunday.

The National Weather Service has even issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook, saying a “small” weather event across Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties on Thursday and Friday could perhaps be followed by very cold weather and a bigger storm with a snow-and-rain mix Sunday night and Monday morning.

Cuomo banned travel on all New York roads after 11 p.m. Monday and shut down commuter railroads and the New York City subway system.

Meteorologists took to Twitter to apologize for their predictions Tuesday while Cuomo defended his decisions.

• RELATED: Metro North to Resume by Noon: Cuomo Holds Tuesday AM Storm Briefing

The New York Times jumped into the fray Wednesday, with a column entitled: “ We Dodged Icy Doom. Let’s Gripe/De Blasio, Cuomo and the Blizzard Response.”

In an article entitled, “Blame De Blasio and Cuomo and Christie for the Blizzard Snow Job,” Time magazine said:

“On Monday, as Governor Cuomo, Governor Christie, and Mayor de Blasio rushed to out-serious each other, New Yorkers were whipped into a fear frenzy. Supermarket shelves were stripped bare, photos of Whole Foods depleted of kale circulated, and people stocked up for what would likely be days (maybe weeks!) indoors.

“As we waited for the storm deemed “historic,” the only real history was made when the subway shut down for the first time ever in preparation for snow. The real insult came when it was reported later that the trains were indeed still running, empty, as trains needed to keep moving to clear the tracks. Citibike was shut down. Cars were banned from the roads and anyone who didn’t take heed risked being fined.

The reaction on Twitter was strong:

Cuomo defended the administration’s decisions—and said he himself does not criticize weather forecasters.

Patch Editor Lanning Taliaferro contributed to this report.

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