Alternate-Side Parking Suspended Saturday For Snow Storm Clean-Up

BROOKLYN, NY — The city suspended alternate-side parking rules on Saturday to clean up after the "bomb cyclone" blizzard that's expected to drop 10-inches of snow on New York City, the Department of Transportation announced Thursday.

The rules were already suspended on Thursday and Friday, but the city extended it to Saturday to help the Sanitation Department's focus snow removal efforts after the storm ends, the DOT said. Parking meters will still be in effect Thursday through Saturday so residents parked here will still have to pay, officials said.

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Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency on Thursday as the blizzard-like conditions pounded the city, bringing up to 10-inches of snow and wind gusts as strong as 50 MPH.

Mayor Bill de Blasio also declared a winter emergency and ordered that any cars blocking snow plows from clearing streets would be towed.

The storm canceled flights at airports around the city, caused delays to subways and buses and suspended New York City Ferry service, officials said. Schools were closed on Thursday but the city expects them to reopen on Friday.

The city's expected to not have much better conditions when the snow ends as forecasts call for arctic air to follow with temperatures only climbing to the teens and wind chills as cold as -20 degrees for Friday and Saturday.

The extreme cold makes salt less effective and officials expect roads might not be cleared until Monday, Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia said.

Also See: Bomb Cyclone Fails To Impress New Yorkers

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