New Yorkers dine out for one last time, restaurants pack up outdoor tables and shoppers line up at grocery stores ahead of the biggest storm in a decade that is set to bring up to 14 inches of snow
New Yorkers dined out one last time on Tuesday night before outdoor dining shuts down Wednesday ahead of the biggest storm in a decade slated to dump up to 14 inches of snow in the Big Apple.
More than 60million Americans are under winter storm advisories, watches and warnings stretching from Georgia to New England as a powerful nor'easter draws near. The storm is forecast to dump over a foot of snow in New York City and up to two feet of of snow in Pennsylvania and New Jersey from Wednesday into Thursday.
On Monday the New York City Department of Sanitation issued a Snow Alert beginning at 2pm that orders all restaurants, which are already closed to indoor dining due to a spike in coronavirus cases, to close outdoor dining until further notice for patron safety.
Diners were seen huddled at tables in chilly 30-degree weather savoring their last meals Tuesday. Some restaurants were seen preparing for the severe weather by dismantling their outdoor set-ups.
On Tuesday city dwellers flocked to their favorite eateries and to grocery stores and hardware shops to stock up on food and shovels ahead of the massive snow storm.
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The last supper before the storm: New Yorkers headed out for a final meal Tuesday night before outdoor dining will shut down Wednesday ahead of the biggest storm to hit the state in a decade
A powerful nor'easter is forecast to hit New York City and dump 14 inches of snow. It'll also blow through much of the Northeast Wednesday into Thursday
On Monday New York City Department of Sanitation issued a Snow Alert beginning at 2pm Wednesday that orders all restaurants, which are already closed to indoor dining due to a spike in coronavirus cases, to close outdoor dining until further notice for patron safety. On Tuesday city dwellers headed out for a last meal before eateries shutter
Diners eating under the outdoor dining set-up at Osteria Cotta in Manhattan on Tuesday night
Diners bundled up in coats and hats to enjoy their last meals before restaurants will be limited to serve take-out only on Wednesday
The chilly 30-degree weather didn't keep New Yorkers at bay from heading out to their favorite restaurants Tuesday night. A view of patrons at Lure in Soho above
Taking it all down: Employees at Cafe Du Soleil restaurant disassemble the restaurant's outdoor seating area before closing on Tuesday
Stocking up! People pictured waiting in long checkout lines outside Fairway Market on the Upper West Side in anticipation of the nor'easter on Tuesday
This National Weather Service map shows the forecast of snowfall across New York State
Much of the city will be shut down Wednesday ahead of the heavy snowfall and strong winds with gusts as strong as 50mph forecast in New England.
Mayor Bill de Blasio warned Tuesday that schools may close for in person learning Thursday but insisted remote classes would continue. Officials also confirmed COVID-19 testing centers will also shut from Wednesday afternoon. Drivers were warned to stay off the roads from tomorrow.
Accuweather meteorologist Tom Kine told The New York Post: 'It looks like the city is right on the border of a 12- to 18-inch zone. Snow will be heavy at times, and wind will pick up. It will be like a blizzard at times Wednesday night. Snow will be coming down at the rate of an inch or two an hour at times, which is a very heavy snow.'
The National Weather Service said Monday: 'Heavy snow possible. Travel could be very difficult to impossible. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute. Gusty winds could bring down tree branches.'
'Based on the current forecast, the City estimates that this Snow Alert will be over on Thursday evening, allowing restaurants to reopen, but this may change to the morning of Friday, December 18 based on actual accumulations and roadway conditions,' the city's sanitation department said Monday.
'At this time, the City is not asking that restaurants remove any barriers or structures for roadway dining,' the department added.
The Department of Sanitation issued a guidance to restaurant owners saying diners are not allowed to sit in roadway set ups and restaurants should remove or secure any tables or chairs in roadways.
All electrical heaters and overhead coverings should also be removed.
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A view of diners at Lure in Soho pictured ahead of Wednesday's fierce storm
Many restaurants have set up outdoor dining areas decked out with roofs, lighting and heat lamps due to coronavirus restrictions
The restaurants in New York City will have to keep their eateries closed to outdoor dining until officials give them the green light to reopen after the snow storm
In the holiday spirit: Diners enjoyed the festive decorations at Sant Umbroeus in Manhattan before outdoor dining will be shut down on Wednesday afternoon
The shutdown of outdoor dining due to weather will only further the strain on already struggling restaurants in New York City. Indoor dining was closed on Sunday at 10pm for two weeks to slow the spread of COVID-19 with restaurants only allowed to operate with outdoor dining and take-out
Mayor Bill de Blasio admitted that December and January will be difficult months for restaurant operators. 'I feel for the 100,000 or more New Yorkers working in the industry right now, and so many more are used to. We've got to bring this industry back. We've got to bring back the restaurants, but it's going to take time,' he said
A view of Good Enough to Eat staffers preparing their decorative outdoor dining seating area on Tuesday above
The shutdown of outdoor dining due to weather will only further the strain on already struggling restaurants in New York City.
Indoor dining was closed on Sunday at 10pm for two weeks to slow the spread of COVID-19 with restaurants only allowed to operate with outdoor dining and take-out.
In New York City more than 794,000 people have tested positive for COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic and there have been more than 28,000 deaths.
The New York City Department of Sanitation under the Gowanus Bridge readies garbage trucks with plows in anticipation of a the storm forecast to hit the city Wednesday
Pictures taken by the DailyMail.com Tuesday show New Yorkers stocking up for the bad weather, buying shovels
Home Depot in Chelsea; Hardware stores also have placed shovels and rock salt by the front door for tomorrow's snow
Shoppers at Target on Tuesday in the Bronx, N.Y. A major storm is forecast for tomorrow bringing with it heavy snow
Accuweather meteorologist Tom Kine told The New York Post: 'It looks like the city is right on the border of a 12- to 18-inch zone. Snow will be heavy at times, and wind will pick up. It will be like a blizzard at times Wednesday night. Snow will be coming down at the rate of an inch or two an hour at times, which is a very heavy snow'
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Mayor Bill de Blasio admitted that December and January will be difficult months for restaurant operators.
'I feel for the 100,000 or more New Yorkers working in the industry right now, and so many more are used to. We've got to bring this industry back. We've got to bring back the restaurants, but it's going to take time,' he said.
Under the Department of Sanitation’s guidelines outdoor dining can continue under a Winter Operations Advisory which results when there’s less than an inch of snow accumulation.
But under a Snow Alert, which results when there’s over an inch of snow, roadway dining must close.
Governor Andrew Cuomo had said Monday: 'Forecasts are calling for this season's first major snowstorm in the Hudson Valley and points south, so it's once again time for New Yorkers to find their shovels.
'As the exact forecast becomes clearer over the next 24 hours, New Yorkers should not only monitor their local weather reports for updates, but start preparing their homes, their families and themselves for heavy snow as well.'
Packing up: Some restaurants started to take down or pack up their outdoor dining eating areas on Tuesday ahead of the storm
Employees at Serafina restaurant take down outdoor seating area for diners on Tuesday in Manhattan
Employees at 94 Corner Cafe install a tarp in an outdoor seating area for diners on Tuesday
The view of the outdoor dining set up at Sveta in Manhattan pictured above on Tuesday
A view of the outdoor dining set up at The Spaniard in Manhattan on Tuesday night above
Employees at Cafe Du Soleil restaurant pictured disassembling their outdoor dining set up Tuesday evening
Eight states from North Carolina to Massachusetts have been issued winter storm watches and warnings by The National Weather Service ahead of the Wednesday storm
AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said: 'All the ingredients are now coming together for our snowstorm, and I really don't see a way out of this for many cities across the Northeast.'
Eight states from North Carolina to Massachusetts have been issued winter storm watches and warnings by The National Weather Service.
D.C. is expected to see 1 to 3 inches of snow; Baltimore 2 to 4 inches. Philadelphia could be buried under 4 to 8 inches by the time the storm passes.
There are travel warnings also in place with forecasters predicting delays, school closures and power outages.
AccuWeather Meteorologist Jake Sojda said: 'Significant power outages will be possible in the area where ice totals of 0.25 of an inch occur, but where mostly sleet falls -- with the tendency to bounce off elevated surfaces -- the risk of power outages will be lower.'