WEATHER

Wintry mix of snow, rain, ice creates commuting mess across New York area

ByEyewitness News WABC logo

Thursday, January 20, 2022

Wintry mix of snow, rain, ice to impact Tri-State commute

The rain was expected to turn to light snow and create an icy, slushy mix on area roads sometime after sunrise.

NEW YORK (WABC) -- A one-two winter punch of rain followed by freezing temperatures led to a slick and slushy morning commute Thursday.

The wintry mix created dangerous driving conditions that could extend into the evening.

Parts of Long Island saw treacherous roadways, and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman was set to describe the steps the county is taking to clear the roads, as well as what precautions residents can take to stay safe.

RELATED | Updated AccuWeather forecast

Rain began falling across the region late Wednesday and continued through the night, and video showed steady rain before 4 a.m. along Route 3 East in Clifton, New Jersey.

The rain then turned to light snow, creating an icy, slushy mix on area roads.

Bergen County saw some early snowfall, while schools in Mahwah joined dozens of other districts around the region posting a delayed start to classes.

New York City issued a Winter Weather Advisory through 1 p.m. Thursday.

Crews manned 700 salt trucks overnight to prepare roads in the city, even as officials urged people to stay off them through the morning commute to make way for plows.