DSNY Issues Snow Alert for Saturday, February 8 at 1:00 p.m.

February 7, 2025

With up to five inches of snow expected during Super Bowl weekend, New York's Strongest prepare to run winning plays on both ends of the field. Stay off the roads so that they can make it home safely for the game!

The New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) has issued a Snow Alert for Saturday, February 8, 2025, beginning at 1:00 p.m. A Snow Alert is the Department's "higher level" snow-fighting notification, as opposed to the "lower level" Winter Operations Advisory.

Current forecasts suggest that precipitation will begin in the early afternoon as a wintry mix, transitioning to all snow in the evening, with the heaviest bands of accumulating snow expected between 7pm and midnight. Precipitation will likely end before noon Sunday, with three to five inches anticipated in much of the City.

As such, DSNY will begin brining both car lanes and bike lanes at midnight tonight, and will begin salt operations at the first sign of precipitation. Thousands of DSNY staff will work on 12-hour shifts to spread salt, to affix plows to collection trucks, and to drive these plows – the heralded cavalry of any serious winter storm – when depths reach two inches.

At this time, there is no anticipated change to collection operations tomorrow, and New Yorkers should continue to follow their regular schedule for trash, recycling, and compostable material unless otherwise notified.

More than 700 salt spreaders are filled and ready to go, and the Department has approximately 700 million pounds of salt on hand, a historically high wintertime headcount, and new high-tech ways of tracking snow operations.

New Yorkers should know: DSNY is working to ensure your safety. Do your part both for yourself and for the Strongest by staying off the roads during active precipitation or, if you absolutely must drive, by doing so slowly, safely, and carefully. Make it home safely for Sunday's big game – and let the Strongest do the same.

In a snow event, New York City's Sanitation Workers cover our streets, highways, and bike lanes, but all residents should remember that clearing snow from sidewalks is the property owners' responsibility. Property owners must to do their part to make sure that the sidewalks are passable.

All winter weather information and information about the City's response to the storm can be found by visiting the City's Severe Weather website at nyc.gov/snow or by calling 311.

Operations Update

Thanks to historic investments in DSNY, the Department's Workers and equipment are more prepared for winter weather than ever before.

Every street is on a route, and unlike in past years, every route can be dispatched at the same time, bringing equity in snow clearance to the entire City. Thanks to historic investments in DSNY, bike lanes will also be serviced simultaneously alongside car lanes. DSNY will be tracking these operations via the new Bladerunner 2.0 platform.

When a plowable depth of 2" or more is reached, residents will be able to track the progress of DSNY snow removal vehicles at nyc.gov/PlowNYC. Remember, a plowed or salted street will not show blacktop right away.

Trash/Recycling Collection

There is no change to DSNY collection or to bin requirements at this time.

Snow Clearing Information

While DSNY clears streets and bike lanes, property owners are responsible for clearing sidewalks. As a reminder, property owners and car owners may NOT push snow into the street, including bike lanes. This impedes snow clearing operations and is illegal. Snow may be moved against the building, to the curb line, or areas on private property. Sidewalks should be passable for all pedestrians, including a minimum 4-foot clear path, where possible.

If the snow stops falling between:

• 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., property owners must clear sidewalks within 4 hours
• 5 p.m. and 9 p.m., property owners must clear sidewalks within 14 hours
• 9 p.m. and 7 a.m., property owners must clear sidewalks by 11 a.m.

The fine for failure to clear sidewalks is $100 for the first offense, $150 for the second offense and $250 for the third offense.

Alternate Side Parking

Alternate Side Parking rules are suspended Saturday to facilitate weather operations. Meter rules are in effect.

New Yorkers are also encouraged to sign up for NotifyNYC, the City's free emergency notification system, available in 14 languages including ASL. Through NotifyNYC, New Yorkers can sign up to receive phone calls, text messages, and emails alerts about severe weather events and emergencies. To sign up for Notify NYC, call 311, visit nyc.gov/notify or follow @NotifyNYC on Twitter.

Find information on Sanitation snow operations along with residents' responsibilities during and after snow at nyc.gov/snow.