Storm Watch: Frigid Cold And Freezing Rain Make For Slick Road Conditions
WESTBURY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Snow continued to pile up Friday on parts of Long Island, and it's just one of the hazards area residents are dealing with as the latest storm lingers on.
As CBS2's John Dias reports, it's a task Tim Oakes says he's learned to master this past month: Scraping the sheets of ice off his Honda Civic. Friday, it took him 20 minutes.
"This ice seems extra thick for some reason, and it's taking me longer to chip off than normal," Oakes said.
So the Westbury, Long Island man was thinking warm thoughts to get him through.
"I'm ready for the spring, man," he said.
His dad said he feels like they haven't seen grass since January.
"It is what it is. You've just got to plow through it, right?" Gerry Oakes said.
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Literally and figuratively. Then you have to salt it, as well -- on the roads and, of course, walkways and sidewalks.
The National Weather Service said last winter, only 8.7 inches of snow dumped down on Long Island. So far this February alone, it has already had more more than 20 inches.
The wintry mix that fell overnight and the additional snow and ice created slippery road conditions on Friday.
"I think it's definitely something I was used to but kind of forgot about, because we haven't had as much snow the past couple of years. So it's definitely an unpleasant reminder," said Westbury resident Dennis Alvarado.
WATCH: CBS2's John Elliott Checks On Conditions In West Caldwell, N.J.
Towns and counties unleashed their army of plows, but salt supplies are dwindling due to major shipment issues from Staten Island. The aging Bronx-Queens Expressway that's used to carry supplies remains under truck weight restrictions.
"We are down to probably 30% of our capacity, maybe even a little less than that," Huntington Town Highway Superintendent Kevin O'Relli told CBS2.
Between all the snow and garbage pick-up, Sanitation crews in the city have been on 12-hour shifts the last 18 days.
"We've been flipping back and forth between refuse and recycling collection and our snow fighting, and that's the way it's going to continue until we break out of this pattern," Sanitation Commissioner Edward Grayson said.
LINK: Winter Storm Survival Guide
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said due to the storm, nearly all COVID-19 vaccine doses scheduled to be delivered this week have been delayed.
But in Westchester County, the snow didn't stop dozens of people from getting their vaccine. One woman bundled up her 91-year-old father.
"We're not going to miss the opportunity to get him vaccinated. Been waiting for this for so long," said Misako Matsuoka.
In New Jersey, one couple was still digging out around dinner time in Manalapan, which had one of the highest totals in the state -- 8.5 inches.
"This is lighter than the big storm we had 2-3 weeks ago," said Al Rich. "But the cold, it just stinks."
New Jersey State Police said they responded to 500 crashes Thursday, not including overnight.
In Queens, machines were need to de-ice planes before takeoff at LaGuardia Airport. That's technology one Garden City man wished he had, as he tried to stay optimistic.
"It's the wintertime in New York, that's what we have to deal with," said Frank Bilello. "I keep telling myself that every day."
Something else you can keep telling yourself to get you through this winter mess: Spring is right around the corner. It starts in about four weeks.
