Warm, Wet Weather On The Way Sunday
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The snow that blanketed New York City streets early Saturday morning didn't stick around long.
Most of it melted as temperatures rose above freezing by afternoon.
Up to 4 inches fell in the city Saturday morning, a week before the holiday weekend, after days of bitter cold. Temperatures were in the 20s in the early morning.
By 8 a.m., vehicles were forced to move at a snail's pace in the heart of Manhattan.
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CBS2's crews found plenty of people across the Tri-State area in cars they couldn't control, sliding and spinning, Dave Carlin reported.
In one case, a car turned around on Route 4 in Teaneck, New Jersey.
Home Depots out on Long Island had customers hoping to score shovels and salt as soon as the doors opened Saturday morning. While many folks had the day off, a construction worker named Cliff told WCBS 880's Sophia Hall that he once again had to work outside in the dicey conditions.
"Cold, yeah. You take breaks, try to keep warm," he said. "Be aware of what the environment is."
Bronx resident Felix Torrez told WCBS 880's Myles Miller that he woke up to two drained car batteries due to the inclement weather. Luckily for Torrez, he was prepared with a home battery charge kit.
Meanwhile, those who stayed home for the season's first measurable snowfall were rewarded with picture perfect views.
Parts of Midtown, Manhattan looked picturesque, with snow sticking to the trees, but it started melting fast on the sidewalks and roads.
Yanet Encarnacion, of Montclair, New Jersey, said she picked the wrong morning for a trip into the city. She struggled with a stroller on Ninth Avenue as her mother carried her son across what looked like slushy miniature lakes.
"To me, it's a bit dangerous when you're out with the kids, the stroller doesn't move, he gets tired when he walks," she said.
Some city dwellers frolicked, starting an urban snowball fight on Ninth Avenue and building tiny snowmen.
In Bryant Park, Deanna Kysilovsky, who was visiting from Boston, suggested people drink "some hot chocolate and warm up, and stay warm."
The New York City Department of Transportation suspended alternate side parking regulations for Saturday due to snow operations.
While these types of conditions may look pretty, they can make things difficult for first responders if anything should happen.
Firefighters responded to a three alarm blaze in Orange, N.J. overnight. Along with the flames, they battled slush and ice at the vacant home on Chapman Street.
As CBS2's Ali Bauman reported, the fire broke out around 2:45 a.m. Firefighters spent over an hour battling the chilling conditions to bring the flames under control. No injuries were reported.
The Red Cross advises people to keep flammable items away from space heaters, fireplaces and stoves and says never use an oven to heat a home and do not leave fireplaces or portable heaters unattended.
Thursday and Friday saw temperatures in the 20s for Philadelphia and many other parts of the Northeast. Dangerous wind chills of 20 to 30 below in parts of the region made for crippling conditions Friday.
Rain is expected to move in Sunday morning and last through early afternoon. The mild temperatures won't last long, as the bitter cold returns late Sunday.
(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
