As the city prepares for one of the biggest snowstorms in five years, the message to New Yorkers is clear: stay off the roads if you can.

The NY1 forecast predicts some parts of the city could see up to 18 inches of snow by Tuesday.

What You Need To Know

  • The city's Sanitation Department began brining more than 500 miles of city roadways and bike lanes in preparation for snowstorm

  • 715 salt spreaders and 2,000 plows will be deployed to city streets during the storm

  • Beginning 6 A.M. Monday, February 1, nonessential travel will be restricted

Strong winds and heavy accumulation will create dangerous conditions, especially on the roads.

So the Sanitation Department says it started getting city streets ready for the storm on Saturday.

“We have brined, pre-liquid treated over 500 miles, some with more than two passes. We have also pre-treated with salt some of the local streets as well in anticipation of a very, very severe snowfall event,“ said Ed Grayson, the Comissioner of DSNY.

The Sanitation Department says all their employees are working and ready for the rapid snowfall.

The department has deployed 715 salt spreaders and 2,000 plows will be out on the streets around the clock. And because the storm is expected to linger a bit, DSNY will have to repeatedly plow streets over.

“We could see ground blizzards and white out conditions with some of the extreme winds and rate of snowfall as high as it is,” explained Grayson.

The Office of Emergency Management says it has activated it tow truck tasks force, strategically placing tow trucks along major roadways and other problematic areas for cars in snow storms. 

“We are going to have a group of individuals that are working together to help remove any car or debris that gets stranded and are blocking those critical roadways,“ said Commissioner Deanne Criswell.

Travel conditions will be dangerous during traditional commuting hours Monday.

Mayor de Blasio announced a state of emergency ahead of the snowstorm, including restrictions on non-essential travel beginning 6:00 A.M. Monday

“This situation is now going to be much more dangerous than we initially understood and we got to keep people safe,” he said in a phone interview on NY1.