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New York City Blanketed by Largest Snowstorm in Years

Man shoveling snow on Vernon Blvd. sidewalk 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.

The Oval in Hunters Point South Park 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.