Officials Urge Caution As Tri-State Area Is Socked With Snow, Bitter Cold This Weekend

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- City and state officials urged caution Saturday, as a new round of blowing snow hit the area with more dangerously cold temperatures to follow.

A winter weather advisory is in effect until 1 p.m. Sunday for New York City, northeast New Jersey, southern Westchester and Nassau counties.

A blizzard warning is in effect for eastern Suffolk County and parts of Connecticut from 6 p.m. Saturday until 1 p.m. Sunday.

As CBS2 Meteorologist and Weather Producer Mark McIntyre explained, the blizzard warning was not issued because huge, heaping snow totals are expected – they are not. The reason for the warning is that gusts of 55 to 60 mph will blow the snow around to the point of severely reduced visibilities.

Snow totals most of the city and surrounding area are expected to top out at 3 to 6 inches, with more like 1 to 3 inches in Brooklyn, Staten Island and areas to the south, and 6 inches or more on far eastern Long Island.

High wind and wind chill advisories are also in effect for much of the area.

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As CBS2's Dave Carlin reported, the first round of snow in Dix Hills was light enough for Velis Acevedo to flick it off his car with minimal effort.

But he was dreading the monster winds and deep freeze expected overnight, saying the wind was the worst part of the coming weather mess.

Officials in Suffolk County prepared as best they could.

"This is going to be a real challenge," said Town of Brookhaven Supt. of Highways Daniel Losquadro. "You will have white out conditions."

Brookhaven town snow removal equipment was positioned for a speedy rollout late Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, the town's salt supply was a precious dwindling resource -- especially at this fairly late point in the season.

"We're inside one of our salt barns. We've have had a challenge -- as has all every other municipality -- getting enough salt with these back to back to back storms that we've had recently," Losquardo said.

Residents of Suffolk County were sick and tired of the snow.

"It's too much snow – that's about it," said one man as he drove. "Storm after storm."

Residents are reminded to keep the roadways clear by staying put and park your car where it won't get in the way.

"Please park your cars off the road -- even if that means sharing driveways with the neighbor," Losquardo said.

The snow and deep freeze also struck New Jersey, and on Valentine's Day – the holiday of warming hearts – couples were more interested in warming their hands and feet.

Rich Carvahal was off to Valentine's dinner with his fiancée Saturday evening, and he was running the risk of rose petals icing over, CBS2's Matt Kozar reported.

"I think the cold keeps them fresh a little bit, right?" Carvahal said.

Eddie Vesuli, owner of Mezza Luna Bistro, was worried that the snow and ice would keep people away on Valentine's Day, but there didn't turn out to be a problem. He said the wait time was 45 minutes.

"Family and couples, but mostly family," he said.

Department of Public Works crews in Ramsey, New Jersey did their best to keep the roads clear for the Valentine's Day couples and everyone else out driving. Meanwhile, trucks at a salt yard in Mahwah remained in perpetual motion as they resupplied salt spreaders.

The snow fell in northern New Jersey, but accumulation wasn't significant. The bigger problem was black ice.

The New York City Office of Emergency Management also issued a travel advisory for the entire city, given the snow and strong winds expected Saturday into Sunday.

The Department of Sanitation has issued a snow alert, and has deployed 500 salt spreaders – including small haulsters on residential streets. The city will also deploy 1,600 plows once there is plowable snow of 2 inches or more.

The Department of Transportation has brought in more than 200 personnel, who are expected to be deployed over the weekend for pre-treatment of bridges and overpasses – including salting roadways and repairing potholes ahead of the snow. Bus shelters are also being pre-treated, the city said.

As for specific transportation options, the Staten Island Ferry is expected to run on a normal schedule. But riders should prepare for delays, which will be announced if necessary.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo also issued a warning about the snow and extreme cold.

"New Yorkers should take every appropriate precaution as subzero temperatures and blizzard-like conditions hit the state this weekend," Cuomo said in statement.

According to the National Weather Service, Cuomo said some areas of the state may experience some of the "coldest temperatures in generations."

Cuomo claimed that temperatures at LaGuardia Airport may drop to their lowest since 1943 and Central Park may experience its lowest temperature since 1888. But while there will be extreme cold, McIntyre said such extremes are not likely.

The lowest temperature recorded at Central Park was minus 15 in 1934. The lowest temperature anticipated in Central Park on Sunday night into Monday is more like 2 degrees above zero, McIntyre said.

But as all experts agreed, this does not mean the cold the area will experience should be taken lightly. Wind chills north an west of the city could bottom out at minus 20 to minus 30.

"This weather can be extremely dangerous for everyone from children to the elderly, so I encourage people to stay indoors whenever possible and stay safe," Cuomo said.

The city's OEM is also warning the public to keep warm in this brutal weather.

"It hasn't been this cold since the early 90s as far as we can tell," Commissioner Joe Esposito said Friday night. "Use common sense and limit your time outside."

Because it only takes 15 minutes for frostbite to set in, the dangerous cold has New York City taking action.

Homeless service workers will be doing citywide roundups and keeping checks on people choosing to stay out of shelters and on the streets. People are urged to call 311 if they have problems with residential heat or hot water.

The Department of Sanitation is scheduling employees for mandatory overtime with the small amount of snow expected Saturday.

"When you are fighting snow in these extremely cold temperatures, the salt isn't very effective," said Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia. "You are less likely to see asphalt, even if we've been down that street."

The Department of Sanitation has also issued a snow alert for Saturday afternoon, meaning crews, salt spreaders and plows will be ready for any snow that may fall in the city.

PSEG Long Island crews have been preparing for the storm, looking at power lines and making sure trees are trimmed properly.

Spokesman Jeff Weir said the biggest challenge with the upcoming wintry weather are the predicted high winds.

"Not only for the system, but also for restoration," he told WCBS 880's Sophia Hall. "Safety is first and foremost always for us, so when there are outages and the wind gusts are up above 25 miles per hour, it's unsafe to take a bucket truck up in the air."

The utility says if there are outages, crews will begin restoring service as safely and quickly as conditions allow.

Meanwhile, the Red Cross is warning people about the dangers of carbon monoxide.

"It is something that can accumulate very quickly is some cases or very slowly is some cases and the scary thing is people don't immediately realize they are having problems," Red Cross spokesperson Craig Cooper said. "The symptoms are so basic that people can very often just ignore them or attribute them to something else."

Symptoms include nausea, headaches, sleepiness and dizziness.

Cooper said it's important to have working carbon monoxide detectors in your home.

"The importance of a carbon monoxide detector on each level of your home should not be overlooked," he told 1010 WINS. "They need to be checked the same way that you would a smoke detector and they need to be placed on different levels of your house and not on the corner of the floor where there isn't any air circulation."

Some other tips:

– Don't use gas appliances like ranges, ovens or clothes dryers to heat your home.

– Never use a generator, grill or camp stove inside a home, garage or basement.

– Keep all potential sources of fuel like paper, clothing, bedding or rugs at least three feet away from space heaters, stoves or fireplaces.

– Portable heaters and fireplaces should never be left unattended. Turn off space heaters and make sure any embers in the fireplace are extinguished before going to bed or leaving home.

– Make sure you have a working smoke detector in every room.

For more from the Red Cross, click here.