The winter storm quickly turned into an icy and dangerous mess in New Jersey, as state officials went on high alert after declaring a state of emergency and warning drivers to stay off the roads. 

Across the state, roads were pelted with heavy bands of snow, sleet and freezing rain; the Friday evening commute went from snowy to slushy in a matter of hours. 

While Downtown Ridgewood looked picturesque, it was far from pretty along Route 17 in East Rutherford, where there were near-whiteout conditions and even some spinouts. 

The state Department of Transportation announced a ban on commercial vehicles, like tractor trailers, until Saturday morning, at least. 

To read more of the story, click here.

There are more flight cancellations and delays at New York City’s major airports. 

Newark Liberty International Airport is now reporting 321 delays and 249 cancellations. 

LaGuardia Airport is now reporting 170 delays and 250 cancellations.

John F. Kennedy International Airport is now reporting 279 delays and 387 cancellations.

The NYC Department of Sanitation is hiring emergency snow shovelers to help with the winter storm cleanup in public areas, like bus stops and crosswalks. 

Pay starts at $19.14 per hour, but grows to $28.71 an hour after 40 hours in a week. You must be at least 18 years old and eligible to work in the United States to apply. 

For information on how to apply, click here.

Follow DSNY’s progress plowing the streets of New York City using the city’s live tracker tool. You can type in your address to go directly to your block.   

Click here to see a map of the city and which streets have been plowed.

The Queensboro Bridge has reopened in Manhattan after lanes on the upper level were closed for about 90 minutes due to ice. 

The forecast for New York City is changing. The First Alert Weather team is now calling for 2-5″ in the five boroughs.

It’s due to the changeover to a combination of snow and sleet, which means actual snowfall amounts will be lower than anticipated.

The weather is still likely to cause travel disruptions throughout the city. 

The eastbound upper-level lanes of the Queensboro Bridge are closed in Manhattan due to icy conditions Friday night, according city emergency management officials. 

There was no immediate word on when the lanes would reopen. 

Near-whiteout conditions are being felt as the winter storm intensifies in some of the northern suburbs.

The heaviest snow bands are moving through New York’s Hudson Valley, where 4-7″ is on the ground already, before continuing on into Connecticut.

Meanwhile, an ice storm is taking hold in New Jersey just south of I-78, where the snow changed over to freezing rain and sleet.

Here is the latest forecast for snow totals around the Tri-State Area:

• New York City: 5-9″
• Long Island: 5-9″ for Nassau County and most of Suffolk County, but 9-12″ in spots along the North Shore.
• Central Jersey and Jersey Shore: 5-9″, including 2-4″ for Ocean County, plus central and southern Monmouth County. A light ice glaze is also likely.
• North Jersey, Lower Hudson Valley and Connecticut: 5-9″, but higher amounts are possible locally.
• Upper Hudson Valley and far northwestern New Jersey: 8-12″, but higher amounts are possible locally. 

Alternate side parking in New York City will be suspended Saturday to facilitate snow removal operations.

The parking rules help facilitate street cleaning. The city suspends them for weather and other emergencies, in addition to certain holidays. 

Click here to see the full alternate side parking calendar. 

Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins declared a state of emergency Friday evening due to heavy snowfall and hazardous conditions throughout the northern suburbs. 

“Taking proactive action allows us to mobilize County resources quickly and effectively, protect public safety, and respond as conditions evolve. We urge residents to avoid unnecessary travel, follow official guidance, and put safety first,” Jenkins said in a statement. 

The county said its emergency services, public safety, public works and transportation departments are coordinating storm response efforts.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has declared a state of emergency for the entire county. 

“As a result of the change in forecast, which could have accumulations of over 10 inches of snow, I am declaring a state of emergency, which will enhance our ability to get the county back to normal as quickly as possible,” Blakeman said in a statement.

New York City is now forecasting higher snow totals across the five boroughs. The city’s Office of Emergency Management said it’s expecting 7-11″ of snow by 1 p.m. Saturday.

The department also reiterated its warnings to avoid driving, be careful walking on slippery surfaces, and to not use ovens to heat homes and apartments. 

Click here for more winter weather tips. 

Snow is accumulating quickly because of the below-freezing temperatures across the region — it’s so cold that any snow is sticking right away. 

The Tri-State Area will continue to see bands of heavy snow as the night goes on, with some lighters bouts in between. 

The New York City Department of Sanitation says its salt spreaders have been deployed now that snow is accumulating across the five boroughs. 

“At midnight, we began pre-treating all of the highways and the on and off ramps … with our liquid brine solution, which will help bonding of snow and ice, and also will help some of the suppression of accumulations,” Acting DSNY Commissioner Javier Lojan said on CBS News New York. “In parallel with that, we’ve been powering up all our trucks and chaining up all our trucks, and making sure all our salt spreaders have been loaded to capacity.”   

Lojan said the department will start sending out plows once 2 inches of snow accumulates on the roads.

Long Island drivers are being asked to stay off the roads Friday evening through Saturday morning, and to travel only when absolutely necessary. 

Several towns declared snow emergencies to prohibit parking on the street. Anyone doing so can be ticketed or towed.     

Suffolk County says it has plenty of money in its snow removal budget because there’s been little snow for several years. 

“Last year, we did not have a heavy snow fall. And whatever we saved, we put in a reserve that we did not touch, because we know there comes a time when you’re gonna need to touch it,” County Executive Ed Romaine said. 

All three major airports in the New York City area are reporting cancellations and delays today. 

Newark Liberty International Airport has reported 271 delays and 244 cancellations, so far. 

LaGuardia Airport has reported 145 delays and 242 cancellations, so far

John F. Kennedy International Airport has reported 234 delays and 381 cancellations, so far. 

Heavy snow is starting in the Tri-State Area, with snowfall rates of 1-2 inches per hour possible tonight. That means snow is accumulating quickly and visibility is low, making it dangerous to be on the roads. 

Light/moderate snow is expected after midnight, before the storm tapers down after 7 a.m. Saturday. 

Hochul said the state has over 5,000 utility crews ready to be deployed in case of power outages during the winter storm. 

“That’s more likely to come in a heavy snow event or if there’s heavy winds that can take down trees and limbs, that’ll knock out the power. My number one concern, if that happens, is getting the power restored immediately. So we are in constant communication with utility companies about where they need to go to get the power and the heat back on,” Hochul said.

Click here to see the governor’s full interview. 

Gov. Hochul called in to CBS News New York and said her biggest concern over the next 24 hours is safety on the roads, especially with many people returning from the holidays.

“If you can stay off the roads for just a few more hours, delay your travel plans, and allow our plows to get out there and do what they do,” Hochul said. “If people are staying home, it’s just a volume of snow, we’ll be able to get through it. New Yorkers are tough, we’ve been through this before.” 

The governor said people should plan to stay home for the next day and a half, if possible.

The New York City Office of Emergency Management issued a special weather statement on social media late Friday afternoon, warning about the storm. 

“Snow will overspread the area through 5:30 PM, with visibility dropping to 1 mile or less. Untreated roadways will likely become snow covered. Conditions will deteriorate rapidly. Travel is not recommended this evening,” the department said.

New York City issued a Code Blue on Friday, which happens when temperatures between 4 p.m. and 8 a.m. are forecast to dip below 32 degrees. 

The Code Blue protects homeless individuals, who must be taken in by city shelters when it is in effect.

At his news conference, the mayor said the latest forecast shows 6-9 inches of snow citywide, but as much as 11 inches could fall in northeast Queens and the city’s northern neighborhoods. 

“The heaviest accumulation is likely to occur overnight,” Adams said. “We expect slick roads this afternoon and evening. We know many New Yorkers may be traveling for the holidays, so we want to ask them to limit travel on our roads during this time. If you must travel, use public transportation.”

Adams said city agencies have been working “around the clock” preparing for the winter storm.

Click here to watch the mayor’s full news conference. 

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency in anticipation of the winter storm, which could bring the most snow to New York City since 2022.

“As widespread snowfall is expected to start in New York City and its surrounding areas this evening, I will declare a State of Emergency to ensure that our agencies and local partners have the resources and tools they need to respond to the storm,” Hochul said. “The safety of New Yorkers is my top priority, and I continue to urge extreme caution throughout the duration of this storm. Please continue to monitor your local forecast, avoid unnecessary travel and if you must travel, take all necessary precautions to ensure you arrive safely at your destination.”

Hochul’s order covers more than half the counties in the state. 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is expected to give an update on winter storm preparations on Friday. 

The mayor’s news conference is expected to start at around 4:30 p.m. You can stream it live on CBS News New York. 

On Long Island, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine gave an update on storm preparations. 

“We’re ready. We have our salt, our sanding trucks, we have our plows out, and we’re ready to address the storm,” Romaine said. “If you can, do not travel during the storm. At various times, we’re going to be getting one to two inches per hour, at the peak of the storm. The other thing is, if you can, do not park your car on the local roadways. It makes it difficult for the towns and villages of Suffolk County to plow if your car is on the roadways.” 

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman cautioned residents to take precautions. 

“Stay safe and stay home unless there is an emergency. If you must go out, drive carefully, slow down, and stay alert,” Blakeman said. “Nassau County is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our residents during extreme weather conditions.”

New Jersey went under a state of emergency starting at 1 p.m. Friday.

Acting Governor Tahesha Way urged people to avoid driving, if possible, as the storm approached. 

Bergen County said it had more than 100 trucks prepared for salting and plowing the roads. 

“We want to get a good layer of salt down on the road right away so that we don’t get icing, and then it’s just about pushing the snow and keeping the roads open so that emergency vehicles and people that need to be on the road can get through, ” Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco said.