This story was updated at 4:30 p.m. Monday.
Closures and precautionary measures continued to pour in Monday as the latest winter storm dumped more snow across Westchester County. The National Weather Service reported 15 inches of snowfall Sunday evening and Monday in Rye.
A state of emergency remains in effect for the city of Rye and Westchester County, and vehicle traffic is prohibited until 6 p.m. Monday. All schools, including City of Rye, Rye Neck, and Rye Country Day, are closed Monday. Some districts, including Rye, Rye Neck, and Port Chester, have already made the call to close Tuesday as well.
Wednesday’s Rye City Council meeting has also been postponed. Another 1 to 2 inches of snow is forecasted on Wednesday and Thursday.
“All indicators point to this being a serious snow event that will impact our city for several days,” said Rye Mayor Josh Nathan. “Our Department of Public Works, fire department, and police department will be working around the clock to keep our community safe and maintain essential services. We are asking residents to take this storm seriously — please stay home, stay off the roads, and stay safe.”
In a Monday afternoon weather update on Facebook, Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins warned residents of the conditions that await them on the road once the ban on vehicle traffic is lifted later in the evening.
“The Department of Public Safety vehicles are experiencing extreme difficulty navigating our roads, especially on off-ramps,” Jenkins said in his video. “While the main roadways may be clear, the off ramps may not be. Again, that has been a challenge for folks. Emergency vehicles and snowplows have become stuck in several areas. Ambulances are reporting treacherous conditions.
“When you go out and start to clear off the snow later on today, make sure you don’t throw that snow into the streets, the ones that get plowed. Put them on the side. I know that’s a little bit of extra work, but that will make everything much easier for everyone. Residents are strongly urged to avoid all non-essential travel and stay off the roads until tomorrow morning.”
City buildings, including City Hall and Rye Recreation, are closed to the public Monday, and all recreation programming is suspended Monday.
“We are closely monitoring National Weather Service forecasts and have activated enhanced staffing across our essential departments. We are ready,” said Rye City Manager Brian Shea. “We strongly encourage residents to make the necessary preparations for themselves and their families now, as this could be a significant storm.”
The MTA announced the Metro-North trains will operate on an hourly service schedule Monday, with weekend schedules in place on the branch lines. Bee-Line buses, paratransit, and nearly all flights in and out of Westchester County Airport were canceled Monday.
If you experience a power outage, call Con Edison immediately at 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633). Customers can also report power interruptions or service problems, and view service restoration information online, at www.coned.com.
The city also encourages residents to sign up for Rye emergency alerts through CodeRED and monitor updates through official communication channels, including the city website, Facebook, and Instagram.
