Monday blizzard expected to dump 22 inches of snow on Queens

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A blizzard hit Briarwood in 2016. John Gillespie/Flickr

A blizzard hit Briarwood in 2016. John Gillespie/Flickr

By David Brand

Stay warm and stay home if you can, Queens.

A blizzard is expected to dump 16 to 22 inches of snow across New York City, making travel “very difficult to impossible,” according to the National Weather Service.

The storm that began with a few flakes Sunday evening will likely continue until early Tuesday morning, with wind whipping up to 45 mph, the NWS predicts.

Mayor Bill de Blasio issued a state of emergency Sunday night, putting restrictions on all non-essential travel and closing schools buildings. Remote learning will continue for all students in the public schools system.

“Make no mistake: this storm will bring heavy snowfall, and it will make travel dangerous in every neighborhood in our city,” de Blasio said Sunday. “New Yorkers should stay home, keep the roads clear for emergency vehicles, and let our plows work to keep us all safe.”

The order takes effect at 6 a.m. Monday.

For the latest information, visit NYC.gov/NotifyNYC, call 311 or follow @NotifyNYC on Twitter.

The following categories are exempt from travel restrictions:

  • Public transit workers

  • First responders

  • Healthcare and home care workers

  • Police officers

  • Peace officers

  • Any other workers engaged in vital City services

  • Delivery of food, medical supplies, or fuel

  • News media

  • Hotel workers

  • Homeless shelter and outreach workers

  • Utility workers performing emergency repairs

  • Persons employed by pharmacies, grocery stores (including all food and beverage stores), convenience stores, bodegas, gas stations, laundromats, hotels, restaurants/bars, and hardware stores

  • Individuals seeking medical treatment or medical supplies

  • For-hire vehicles, used to transport persons employed to perform any of these services to and from their places of employment