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Snow Returns to New York as February Heat Wave Disappears

By DNAinfo Staff on February 21, 2011 7:02am  | Updated on February 21, 2011 9:47am

By Olivia Scheck

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

MANHATTAN — Just four days after Manhattan's February heat wave, the streets were once again blanketed in snow Monday morning.

The National Weather Service said approximately 2.5 inches had fallen on Central Park by 7 a.m., with 3 to 5 inches expected by day's end.

The mercury was at 30 degrees with snow falling in Midtown shortly after 10 a.m., according to AccuWeather.com.

The National Weather Service warned drivers to stay off the roads until noon, when the snow is expected to taper off.

Flurries would resume about 8 p.m. and continue sporadically throughout the night, AccuWeather said.

Temperatures will remain brisk, hovering in the low-to-mid 30's during the day and dropping into the 20's around 10 p.m., according to the weather service.

An employee shoveled snow outside Petrossian on West 58th Street.
An employee shoveled snow outside Petrossian on West 58th Street.
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DNAinfo/Olivia Scheck

"We had an indian summer but that's all over," Bronx resident Jose Rivera, 58, said on his way to work at a Midtown Audi dealership.

"One day hot, one day cold – it's crazy," commented Frank Roberto, 59, a busboy at Applejack Diner on Broadway and West 55th Street.

"Between this and the holiday it's going to be a very slow day," Roberto added, referring to Presidents Day.

Still, others in Midtown said they were pleased with the winter weather.

"That's the beauty of living in New York," Midtown West resident Alicia Wicker, in her 50's, remarked. "You get to experience all the seasons."

"And there's nothing I can do about it so why should I complain?" the media executive added.

Jay Greenwald, 46, who lives in the Mandarin Oriental hotel, treated his Portuguese Water Dog, Lucy, to an extra long walk in Central Park.

"She loves the snow," the internet investor said as Lucy frolicked in the freshly-fallen powder.

The situation was less favorable at La Guardia Airport, where arriving flights were delayed by an average of 40 minutes, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

The city's other major airports, Newark and JFK, were experiencing normal delays of 15 minutes or less as of Monday morning, the FAA said.

Subways and buses were not affected by the weather, although they were running on a Saturday schedule in observance of the holiday, according to MTA.info.

NJ Transit was also operating on a weekend schedule because of Presidents Day, but was not otherwise experiencing delays, their website said.

Alternate Side Parking was suspended and New York public schools were closed for Presidents Day.

Snow blanketed Manhattan on the morning of Monday, Feb. 21.
Snow blanketed Manhattan on the morning of Monday, Feb. 21.
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DNAinfo/Della Hasselle