Cold eases but still frigid | Live Updates

Photos show the view from up above of the partially frozen Great Falls in Paterson, New Jersey.

A driver in the Bronx found his van covered in ice after a leaky pipe above turned into an icy waterfall.

It happened Wednesday underneath the elevated tracks of the Kingsbridge Road Subway Station.

Crews did their best to try to free the van from what looked like a frozen waterfall.

The MTA says it's aware of the situation and sent crews to help the driver out.

NYC Ferry service is suspended across all routes due to ice in the Hudson River.

This is the coldest stretch in New York City in eight years.

The ice appears to be more on the NYC side than the New Jersey side

When the temperature drops below 30 and there are weak tides and a half moon, that's a recipe for ice on the river.

The only ferry that is operating right now is the Staten Island Ferry because it is so much bigger than a typical ferry.

Rhiannon Ally reported from the freezing Hudson River:

Rhiannon Ally reports from the frozen Hudson River.

For the first time in more than four years, New York City's Department of Sanitation has resumed a special snow melting operation to deal with massive snow piles that aren't going away because of frigid temperatures.

With much of the snow stuck in place, sanitation crews are manually removing it from streets and sidewalks. The snow is scooped up, trucked to one of eight snow melting sites across the five boroughs, and dumped into large heated baths. After the snow melts, the water is filtered through strainers to remove debris before being released into the city's sewer system.

City officials say the lingering snow has made it difficult at times for people to walk safely or access public transit. Bus stops have been a major focus, especially shelters that were blocked by large piles of snow. The mayor said more than 3,200 bus stop shelters across the city were cleared as of Wednesday. Bus stops without shelters are typically the responsibility of nearby property owners.

The Sanitation Department said the amount of snow still on the ground is significant, pointing to towering piles that have yet to be removed. They say the goal is to make streets and sidewalks safer, especially for pedestrians and people relying on mass transit to get around.

As snow operations continue, Alternate Side Parking rules will remain suspended through February 1. Crews say work will continue until conditions improve and streets are fully passable.

Sidewalks and intersections still present a challenge for New Yorkers.