NYC Blizzard Coming Today And Tomorrow, Roosevelt Island Update From RIOC - Get Your Cars Off Roads For Snow Removal, Free Parking At Motorgate For Residents. Also RIOC Operations Committee And Cornell Tech Community Task Force Meetings Tonight Cancelled

 Image From National Weather Service

According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC)

RIOC will periodically issue updates via RIOC Advisories during this storm. In the event of an emergency, please call 911. For local assistance, call Public Safety at 212-832-4545.

Notification issued 1/26/2015 at 11:10 AM. The National Weather Service has issued a "Winter Weather Advisory" for our area, beginning today, Monday January 26th at 1 PM until Wednesday, January 28th. The current forecast calls for 24-36 inches of snow accompanied by strong winds.

Effective immediately, there is NO PARKING on Main Street or the East and West Roadways in order for snow preparation and subsequent removal to take place. Residents should move their cars off the roads as soon as possible.

As an alternative, free parking will be available to residents only in the Motorgate Garage. This accommodation is subject to change based on weather conditions. Residents who do not remove their vehicles from the garage by 4 PM on Thursday, January 29, will be charged for any extra time by Motorgate Management. Residents must present identification upon exiting to qualify. Please contact the Motorgate Garage at (212) 832-4585 or visit the Motorgate offices on the fourth floor if you have any additional questions.

Please be prudent and safe whether driving or walking and take the time to look in on elderly and/or disabled neighbors.

and:

RIOC will periodically issue updates via RIOC Advisories during this storm. In the event of an emergency, please call 911. For local assistance, call Public Safety at 212-832-4545.

Notification issued 1/26/2015 at 11:30 PM. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for our area beginning at 1 PM today until Thursday, January 28th. Residents are encouraged to avoid unnecessary travel. Please drive slowly, use major streets or highways, and keep the name and number of at least one local towing service on hand. Pedestrians should avoid slippery surfaces, dress in layers, and maintain a heightened awareness of cars, especially when crossing intersections.

Trucks will be plowing and salting the roadways throughout the day and during the night in order to avert dangerous travel conditions. RIOC will be working to keep all areas clean for the duration of the storm. Thank you for your cooperation while necessary preparations for the storm and subsequent snow removal are taking place.

To report any icy or other hazardous areas, please call the Public Safety Department at 212-832-4545 as soon as possible.

Also, today's scheduled meeting of the RIOC Operations Advisory Committee and the Cornell Tech Community Task Force have been cancelled due to the weather.

The National Weather Service reports:

This Afternoon Periods of snow. High near 29. Wind chill values between 10 and 15. Blustery, with a northeast wind 17 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Tonight Snow with widespread blowing snow. The snow could be heavy at times. Some thunder is also possible. Low around 22. Wind chill values between 10 and 15. Blustery, with a north wind 21 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 8 to 12 inches possible.

Tuesday Snow with widespread blowing snow. The snow could be heavy at times. Some thunder is also possible. High near 26. Wind chill values between 10 and 15. Blustery, with a north wind around 22 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 7 to 11 inches possible.

Tuesday Night Light snow likely, mainly before 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 19. Wind chill values between 5 and 10. Blustery, with a northwest wind 18 to 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 28. Northwest wind 11 to 17 mph.

Be careful and stay safe.

UPDATE 1:35 PM - According to the Roosevelt Island Youth Program:

The Youth Center will be open today from 3pm-8pm for Middle and High School Students. However, all Beacon Afterschool Activities are canceled due to inclement weather.

School is canceled for tomorrow. So, the Youth Center will be open from 12pm to 8pm for Middle and High School students.

the Roosevelt Island Public Library,:

The Roosevelt Island Library will close early today, 1/26/15, at 5:00pm today (We usually open until 8pm on Mondays.

There has not been decision about tomorrow's library schedule yet. Please visit http://www.nypl.org for the latest updates.

and FDR Four Freedoms Park:

Following the early closure of SouthPoint Park today (Monday, 1/26), Four Freedoms Park closed at 1:00 p.m. As we are normally closed on Tuesdays, we will remain closed tomorrow. We will notify the group when we are set to re-open and will be posting this information on our website and through social media.

UPDATE 2:55 PM - The Roosevelt Island Seniors Association Health & Wellness seminar scheduled for 4 PM today was cancelled.

From the Roosevelt Island Twitterverse:

@AndrewPettit waiting for Rioc response about tram. Snow won't stop Tram but winds in excess of 50 mph stopped it in past
— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) January 26, 2015

Starbucks closed

this afternoon at 2 PM (I am missing my Iced Mocha).

UPDATE 3:40 - No pizza deliveries from Sac's Place in Astoria today.

Apologies to @Rooseveltisland customers but due to the weather, we are unable to make deliveries there at this time. We apologize!
— Sac's Place (@sacsplace) January 26, 2015

They have really good pizza.

Roosevelt Island's NYC Council Member Ben Kallos reports:

... Temporary Jobs:

Want to help get our city shoveled out and get paid for doing it? Consider assisting the Department of Sanitation with snow removal. Pay is $10 per hour and increases to $15 per hour after 40 hours. Be advised, the Department of Sanitation will only accept those who arrive between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Tuesday, February 14. Call 311 for garage location information. Please visit the Department of Sanitation website for requirements.

Volunteer:

If you would like to assist homebound seniors in the district or help shovel for a neighbor, please contact my office...

Contact Mr. Kallos here or at 212-860-1950.

UPDATE 5:45 PM - From RIOC:

Notification issued 1/26/2015 at 5:07 PM. At this time, the Tram is running on schedule. The Red Bus is operating with delays. The MTA has not reported any change in F train service to Roosevelt Island but service will be limited after 7 PM tonight (MTA.info). If weather conditions deteriorate, Tram and/or Red Bus service will be suspended until further notice.

Roosevelt Island will follow Governor Cuomo's directive for travel during the storm by limiting vehicular traffic on Main Street to all but emergency vehicle travel at 11 PM Monday night until further notice. Only vehicles related to emergency services, vital city services and delivery of vital supplies will be permitted on Main Street until the order is lifted. Please do not walk or venture outside once the worst of the storm hits this evening.

RIOC will periodically issue updates via RIOC Advisories during this storm. In the event of an emergency, please call 911. For local assistance, call Public Safety at 212-832-4545.

Gristedes hopes to stay open until 9 or 10 PM tonight and will be open tomorrow.

Duane Reade will close 8 PM tonight and be open tomorrow.

Wholesome Factory will be open until 11:30 PM tonight and be open tomorrow. Lines at Wholesome Factory

were long this evening.

Riverwalk Bar & Grill closed at 3 PM this afternoon

and will be closed tomorrow as well.

UPDATE 6 PM - From RIOC:

Notification 1/26/2015 at 6:00pm Due to inclement weather the Roosevelt Island tram will be operating one cabin. Please expect delays.

At 11:00pm the Roosevelt Island Tram will suspend service until further notice.

UPDATE 1/27 9:50 AM:
According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):

Notification issued 1/27/2015 at 9:15 AM. As of 9:00 AM, Red Bus and Tram service has been restored and are scheduled to run every 15 minutes.

The MTA has advised that all subway and bus service is being gradually restored and will run on a Sunday schedule until further notice. Service is extremely limited; expect extensive delays.

Please remain cautious; travel only when necessary and check in on your elderly and/or disabled neighbors.

Governor Cuomo announced this morning:

... MTA buses and subways will begin to resume this morning and by 12:00 p.m. will be operating on a Sunday schedule for the rest of the day and will resume normal service on Wednesday.

Roads and Bridges

The travel ban for all state and local roads has been lifted. Drivers should continue to use extreme caution and prepare properly as driving conditions remain poor and other states still may have travel bans in effect....

More here.

UPDATE 11:25 - From the NYPL:

The Roosevelt Island Library and all other branches of the New York Public Library will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, January 27.

UPDATE 7 PM - From RIOC:

Notification issued 1/27/15 at 3:40 PM. Following an earlier parking suspension on Main Street and the East and West roadways due to the winter snow storm, metered parking is now permitted on Main Street. All residents who have parked temporarily inside the Motorgate Garage can now move their vehicles back to street level.