Snow Totals, Wind Gusts So Far: 'Bomb Cyclone' Snowstorm

Thursday's winter storm has intensified in the Hudson Valley. The 'bomb cyclone', on its way to becoming a Nor'easter, is causing restrictions on transportation in the region as well as closures and cancellations. Find information throughout the day here, and keep checking back for updates. Utility company resources are below.

The storm is a powerful nor'easter battering coastal areas with heavy snow and strong winds, from Florida to Maine. The NOAA satellite image shows the line of clouds stretching over a thousand miles south of the storm, which is drawing moisture from deep in the Caribbean.

It's one of two storms hitting New York state — the other is expected to bring 8 inches or more to upstate and the North Country.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo urged New Yorkers to stay off the roads.

"It is not just snow," he said on NY1. "It is cold and wind and frigid temperatures, and when you have a whiteout condition, I don't care how well you are prepared. If you can't see ten feet in front of you, you have a problem."

Cuomo declared a state of emergency across Westchester, New York City and Long Island. Additionally, a travel advisory has been issued from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today, with the worst weather expected from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sustained winds of 25-30 mph are expected with gusts of up to 60 mph across the downstate region. The system will also create blizzard conditions that could lead to blowing snow and whiteouts on roadways, with coastal flooding possible and overnight drops in temperatures causing hazardous black ice.

Yesterday, the governor activated the State Emergency Operations Center at a Level 4 enhanced monitoring to track potentially dangerous winter storm conditions from two different low-pressure systems - one approaching from the north and the other affecting coastal areas - as well as frigid temperatures that will overspread the state through this weekend.

4 p.m. — The National Weather Service has interim reports of snow accumulation and peak wind gusts for several locations in the lower Hudson Valley.

Snow accumulation:

• Larchmont - 9.5 inches as of 2:30 PM
• Armonk - 8.5 inches as of 2:07 PM
• Mount Kisco- 7.0 inches as of 2:12 PM
• Irvington - 3.5 inches as of 12:10 PM

Peak wind gusts

• White Plains Airport - 58 mph 1:53 PM
• Larchmont Harbor - 55 mph 1:36 PM
• Croton-on-hudson - 44 mph 12:58 PM
• Peekskill - 42 mph 1:03 PM

The nor'easter knocked out power to 2,600 customers in Rockland County Thursday, O&R reports. Most of the damage to the system is repaired and only 100 customers remain without power as of 4 p.m., the utility reported.

NYSEG reports 1,577 customers without power in Putnam County.

2:40 p.m. — Metro-North reports both delays and cancelled trains on the Harlem, Hudson and New Haven lines. The MTA reports scattered delays of up to 30 minutes along with train combinations and cancellations in both directions.

Hudson Line northbound trains will not make stops at Riverdale, Ludlow, Glenwood and Greystone due to a downed tree. Customers wishing to access Ludlow and Riverdale should travel to Yonkers Station and Customers wishing to access Glenwood and Greystone should travel to Hastings on Hudson for southbound service to their destination.

In Westchester, Bee-Line buses and Paratransit vehicles are operating with 60 minute delays. Routes 8, 13B, 15, 16, 19, 32, 40/41& 60. are operating on the standard snow detours. Rts. 25, 26, & 55-at the Cross County Shopping Center, buses are avoiding the hill by Stop n’ Shop, traveling on Vredenberg Avenue & Kimball Avenue instead.

2:30 p.m. — Stewart Airport in Orange County got a surprise visitor today: a Singapore Airlines A380 was diverted because of the snowstorm.

2 p.m. — The forecast called for gusty winds, and a 47 mph gust was recorded in Larchmont at the harbor Thursday morning.

Scattered power outages are reported in Putnam and northeastern Westchester by NYSEG. Call 1.800.572.1131 to report outages to NYSEG. SEE: NYSEG Reports Scattered Outages: Storm Grayson.

There are also 950 Con Edison customers without power in Westchester County, affecting 286 customers in Mount Pleasant and 421 in Yorktown. Central Hudson outages are affecting a total of 87 customers, with 78 out of power in Dutchess County.

12:50 p.m. — Bee-Line buses and Paratransit vehicles are operating with 30 minute delays. These routes are traveling on the standard snow detours: Rts. 8, 13B, 15, 16, 19, 32, 40/41 and 60. Rts. 25, 26, & 55-at the Cross County Shopping Center, buses are avoiding the hill by Stop n’ Shop, traveling on Vredenberg Avenue & Kimball Avenue instead.

New Castle has declared a Snow Emergency.

Yorktown has declared a Snow Emergency.

Noon — The storm is affecting Metro-North. The commuter railroad reports delays on the Harlem, Hudson and New Haven lines. The Hudson Line delays are 60-90 minutes northbound.

Harlem Line is currently experiencing delays of up to 30 minutes along with train combinations and cancellations due to the impact of the winter storm on our service area. Customers should use caution when entering and exiting trains, and on platforms and staircases. For service updates please monitor www.mta.info/mnr , download out TrainTime app, and follow us on Twitter & Facebook.

Hudson Line northbound train service is currently not making station stops at Riverdale, Ludlow, Glenwood, and Greystone due to downed trees and a switch failure. Customers wishing to access Ludlow and Riverdale stations should travel to Spuyten Duyvil Station for Northbound service to your destination. Customers wishing to access Glenwood and Greystone stations please travel to Yonkers for Northbound service to your destinations.

Listen for announcements at your station.

11:55 a.m. — USE CAUTION TRAVELING ON THE STATE THRUWAY

State Police Troop T said to use your best judgment to determine if driving is prudent and allow for adjustments to your schedule to ensure a safe commute or simply avoid unnecessary travel.

Use the "two second rule." Choose an object near or above the road ahead. As the vehicle ahead passes it, count aloud, slowly, "one thousand one, one thousand two." If you reach the object before you finish counting, you are following too closely. Allow the other vehicle to get further ahead. In bad weather, increase the count to three or four seconds for extra space.

Keep the following in mind:

• Get the latest weather forecast before leaving with your local weather apps, monitor radio or TV stations
• In WHITE OUT conditions, turn on your Hazard or 4-way lights
• Keep a full tank of gas
• Ensure your fluid levels are sufficient (windshield washer fluid and anti-freeze)
• Ensure the spare tire is sufficient and you have the jack and wheel wrench
• Use headlights at all times to increase your visibility
• Vehicles equipped with simultaneous flashers are required to use them while traveling on the Thruway at a speed under 40 miles per hour.
• Drive prudently. If the conditions are adverse you should decrease your speed accordingly
• Look down the road for potential hazardous
• Be observant
• Maintain safe distance between vehicles, don't tailgate
• DO NOT use cruise control. This decreases your reaction time to apply brakes.
• Be aware of all EMERGENCY VEHICLES: Police, Fire, Ambulances, Town Trucks, and Maintenance Vehicles
• If you do not absolutely have to go out onto the roads, then don’t

If you are involved in a collision or leave the roadway: If you drive off the roadway and are stuck in a snow bank or ditch, stay in your vehicle and call 911. DO NOT exit your vehicle unless it is an absolute emergency. You put yourself at risk of being struck by another vehicle. Roll the windows down a few inches or turn your vehicle off if you are stranded in snow for a period of time with your vehicle running. Covered mufflers can cause physical injury or death due to inhalation of carbon monoxide. If you should become stranded on the Thruway, know your location by being aware of your direction and mile post marker. This will help emergency personnel reach your location as quickly as possible.

11:30 a.m. — The Blizzard Warning has spread west on Long Island, and now includes Nassau County.

In Westchester County, Bee-Line buses and Paratransit vehicles are operating with 30-minute delays. Routes 8, 13B, 15, 16, 19, 32, 40/41& 60. are operating on the standard snow detours.

At its 11:30 a.m. briefing the National Weather Service shifted its prediction of snow totals in the lower Hudson Valley upward: to 5-10 inches.

9 a.m. — The Westchester County Airport is open and operating normally. Passengers should check with their carrier for more specific flight information.

• School districts in Rockland, Westchester and Putnam counties are closed.
• With a high wind warning in effect, the New York Thruway Authority has put speed restrictions on I-87 in both directions across the Mario Cuomo Bridge. The speed limit is 35 mph.
• Bee-Line buses and Paratransit vehicles are operating with 15 minute delays. Routes 8, 15, 32, 40/41& 60. are operating on the standard snow detours.
• The Westchester Airport is open and operating. Check your airline for specifics.
• Hudson Valley Weather warns of dangerous deepening cold after the storm passes.

The weather has the potential to affect both overhead and underground electrical delivery service. The snow and winds could knock down power lines. Then a mixture of road salt and melting snow will infiltrate manholes, possibly causing outages.

Utility crews will give priority to restoring service lines that will provide power to the most customers quickly, then restore smaller groups and individual customers who are without power.

Resources

SEE ALSO:

• Coping With Winter Storms: Con Ed, Red Cross Tips
• What Is A Bomb Cyclone: Bundle Up; It'll Be Wicked

CON ED

Customers can report downed power lines, outages and check service restoration status at www.conEd.com or by calling 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633). When reporting an outage, customers should have their Con Edison account number available, if possible, and report whether their neighbors also have lost power. Text REG to OUTAGE (688243) to sign up for text notifications, and follow the prompts. You will need to enter your Con Edison account number to complete the registration process. Once you've registered, you will not need your account number to report or check the status of a power problem. Or go here to stay on top of outages and power problems by signing up for text notifications.

O&R

There are several ways O&R customers can report outages and check service restoration status:

• Go to www.oru.com from any computer or web-enabled mobile device;
• Download the O&R Mobile app through the App Store or Google Play Store;
• Text “OUT” to 69678 (myORU); or
• Call Customer Assistance at 1-877-434-4100

CENTRAL HUDSON

Fallen line or other hazardous condition reporting: If you see a downed power line or other potentially hazardous condition involving electrical equipment, stay at least 30 feet away from the wires and anything they are in contact with. The ground around downed or low hanging power lines as well as surrounding objects such as fences could be energized. To make a report, call Central Hudson immediately at 845-452-2700, or only if calling from outside the 845 area code, 1-800-527-2714. To report an outage online, go here.

NYSEG

Before reporting an electricity outage, take steps to determine if it is NYSEG’s responsibility:

• Do your neighbors have power?
• Are the streetlights lit?
• Are your breakers tripped or fuses blown?
• Do you have no lights in only one room?

If you answered yes to any of the above, the problem may be with your equipment. Do not report an outage online. If NYSEG responds and finds that the problem is with your electrical equipment, you will be billed for our service call. Please call us at 1.800.572.1131 to discuss your electricity outage.

To report an outage online, go here.

Hudson Valley Weather has regional weather details.

Check back with Patch: This post will be updated throughout the day with the latest news of the storm.

PHOTO/ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) GOES-16 satellite