By Gabriela Resto-Montero
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — City officials declared a weather emergency Wednesday as another winter storm moved through the region that could dump a foot of snow on Manhattan.
The National Weather Service forecasted that 8 to 12 inches of snow could fall here before Thursday morning. A Winter Storm Warning was in effect through 6 a.m.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg said during a Wednesday afternoon press conference that the city would try to keep schools open on Thursday, but that a final determination wouldn't come until 5 a.m.
The city urged drivers to stay off the roads and use public transit instead. Any vehicle that was blocking a roadway or in the way of a snowplow would be towed.
The city's three major airports — JFK, LaGuardia and Newark — are experiencing delays and disruptions due to the conditions, according to the Port Authority.
Alternate side parking and meter rules were suspended citywide, as was trash collection, city officials said.
Only 3 to 5 inches of snow were expected during the day Wednesday, with the bulk of the storm to hit during the night, the National Weather Service said.
