Update: Parks Close Today at 6:00pm. Parks Dept. Snow Storm Warning: Avoid Using Parks Till Wednesday

The Parks Department has urged the public to avoid using parks until Wednesday morning due to hazardous conditions like falling branches and icy paths.   Yesterday park goers played games in Central Park (above).   The Central Park Conservancy said they will be plowing around the clock.  (Photo: Geofrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) Click on image to enlarge.

City-Wide

By Geoffrey Croft

With the impending historic winter storm expected to dump up to 3 feet of snow in the city parks will be closed starting at 6pm today.

The agency also advises against using parks during and after the storm due to the possibility of hazadious conditions caused by downed trees and tree limbs and icy paths and have issued issued a Severe Weather Forecast warning:

"NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver urges caution during the snow storm predicted for Monday afternoon through Tuesday evening. Heavy ice and snow can cause hazardous conditions in parks, including falling branches and treacherous frozen park paths. NYC Parks advises New Yorkers to avoid using parks until Wednesday morning, when we will provide an update on park conditions," the statement said. 

"We are facing most likely one of the largest snow storms in the history of this city,"   Mayor de Blasio said yesterday at a press conference. 

The National Weather Service is predicting blizzard-like conditions with winds as high as 65 mph.  The city Office of Emergency Management has called in the National Guard for support for emergency vehicles as a precaution, agency commissioner Joseph Esposito said. 

Coastal flooding is also expected in New York.

The City has established a Severe Weather Page:  

Update: 1:00pm

The National Weather Service has issued a citywide Blizzard Warning, which is in effect from Monday, Jan. 26, at 1 PM, until Wednesday, Jan. 28, at 12 AM. The current forecast calls for 18 to 24 inches of snow, with locally higher amounts possible and snowfall rates of up to 2 to 4 inches per hour late Monday night into Tuesday morning. Northern winds of 20 to 30 MPH are forecast, with gusts of up to 55 MPH possible.