Snow blankets the New York area
NEW YORK -- A slow-moving system dumped wet snow across much of the New York area Thursday with the heaviest accumulations in New Jersey, where government offices and most schools closed for the day.
The snow began falling in many areas around dawn and is expected to keep coming through this evening. Westfield, N.J. recorded 9.5 inches of snow, while 8 inches fell in Staten Island, and 7 in Central Park.
Gov. Chris Christie declared a state of emergency in New Jersey and is asking motorists to stay off the roads if possible.
Officials decided to close state offices on Thursday and cancel Assembly committee meetings and a Senate session.
There are also speed restrictions in place on the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, Outerbridge Crossing and Goethals Bridge.
NJ Transit will be cross-honoring.
New York City schools were open, although field trips were canceled. Alternate side parking rules were suspended, although meter rules are in effect. Plows hit the streets once two inches of snow accumulated.
The city has issued a hazardous travel advisory.
For air travelers, 552 flights were canceled at Newark airport; 904 flights were canceled at LaGuardia; 318 were canceled at JFK.
Metro-North trains are running well in and out of Grand Central.
Latest on Long Island Thursday:
Less snow was predicted for southern Westchester County. School was canceled in Yonkers for Thursday.
There were quite a few accidents, including one where a bus narrowly missed driving into a house on Dobbs Ferry Road.
Around 8 a.m. Thursday, the driver of the empty charter bus swerved to avoid another car pulling out in front of him.
The bus hit brick pillars and smashed into two cars.
Surveillance video showed the moment of impact. Thankfully no one inside the house was hurt.
In fact, a lot of buses had problems Thursday morning. The streets of downtown White Plains were downright treacherous with several Bee Line buses unable to fight their way through the snow.
The flakes started falling in Westchester overnight, making the morning commute an adventure; from cars spinning their wheels in Yonkers, to drivers skidding off the highway in Rye. One of the big problems was rain before the changeover to snow which prevented crews from pretreating the roads.
By afternoon, the focus was yet another cleanup.
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