Tri-State Deals With Snowy, Slushy Aftermath Of Winter Storm

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Another round of winter weather coated the Tri-State area in snow, slush and ice Saturday.

The overnight snow turned to rain for most of the Tri-State area by Saturday morning with exception of some far northwest counties in New Jersey and New York.

CBS2's Dave Carlin was in Mobile2 Saturday night checking the road conditions where motorists were mindful of black ice after the wintry mix had frozen over.

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The last of the rain and snow moved offshore following sunset, and quickly cleared out later this evening and overnight, CBS2 Meteorologist and weather producer Matt DeLucia reported.

According to forecasters, the Tri-State area will see between 3 and 5 inches of snow by the end of the storm. But some areas, particularly in New Jersey and northern New York City suburbs, are already seeing as much as 7 to 8 inches of snow.

In Connecticut, the highest snow fall total was found in Darien with 7.8 inches Saturday morning. West Milford, in Passaic County, New Jersey reported 8.5 inches of snow and Airmont in Rockland County, New York saw as much as 7 inches, WCBS 880 reported.

Snow plows were out in full force trying to stay ahead of the storm as drivers take extra precautions on the slippery roads.

CBS2's Ilana Gold reported from Mobile2 earlier Saturday, where the snow and slush was more of a problem on the side streets than the main roadways in the Fordham section of the Bronx.

And as the plows and salt trucks made their way through New York City the side streets began to clear by late Saturday morning, Gold reported.

"It's a little slick. If you don't have to go out, don't go out," said Riverdale resident Randy Ravetti. "Just take it easy. It's snowing, you can't drive like a maniac."

"A lot of slush. Not too much ice, but a lot of slush," said Riverdale resident Christopher Cleckly. "It hasn't been touched yet so it makes it hard getting out of parking spots."

Most major roadways were cleared of snow by plows overnight.

"They came through here this morning at 6 o'clock, five of them across," said one Bronx resident.

Now, residents are tasked with digging out from under the wet, heavy snow.

"It's only 3 or 4 inches, but it's soggy, so it's heavy stuff," said one Riverdale resident.

"You can't complain too bad, I mean we've had a pretty good winter so far," Ravetti said. "We didn't get hammered so much. It could be a lot worse."

In all, the city Department of Sanitation has pressed into use 1,500 plows and 500 salt spreaders. The Office of Emergency Management activated its situation room, where officials can deploy resources as they monitor the storm.

Alternate side parking rules have also been suspended for Saturday. Payment at parking meters is still in effect.

For those residents not driving, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said it planned to deploy super-powered snow throwers and retired subway cars modified with de-icing equipment to keep bus routes and subway rails clear.

Dozens of crashes in New Jersey Saturday night were blamed on the freshly-formed black ice that easily took hold of untreated surfaces.

"Took my time, kept my speed down, stayed in one lane," motorist Darryl Marshall said.

New Jersey residents were shoveling sidewalks carefully after 6 inches of snow fell in Fanwood, CBS2's Christine Sloan reported.

"When you first step on the snow there is a thin layer of ice because it is starting to rain; the bottom is nice and slick," said Scotch Plains resident Cole Weber.

Most of the main roads in Union County looked good by day break, Sloan reported.

"The roads are pretty good. Light rain, but they've cleared them up pretty well," said Floyd Fox.

Plow trucks got an early start, trying to stay ahead of the snow. Heavily traveled thoroughfares like South Avenue were pre-treated with salt, then plowed.

"We did this route about three times already. So we're waiting for the last little bit to come before we start again," said Union County plow driver Darren Barno.

Still, local officials warned residents to stay home if possible.

"If you don't have to go out, don't go out until streets are cleared," said Fanwood Councilman Tom Kranz. "And anybody who drives a snow plow can tell you it's a lot easier to plow a street when the cars are not on the street. So if you can pull your car off the street and into your driveway, if you have a driveway, that's always a help."

CBS2's Emily Smith was in Highland Lakes, where the area got the brunt of the storm.

"This is the second time. The first time I was out three or four hours and got it cleared away. And hopefully I won't have more for a little while," Jim Sedlacks, of West Milford, said.

NJ TRANSIT is offering systemwide cross honoring Saturday to help minimize any disruptions or delays that may occur due to the storm.

For more information, click here.