By Nina Mandell
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — If you must go outside, bundle up, Manhattan. If not, stay home. Snowmageddon is upon us.
The National Weather Service at midday Wednesday reissued a blizzard warning for the city and surrounding area until 6 a.m. Thursday, saying the region could get socked with nearly a foot of snow.
Snowfall was light overnight, but by Wednesday morning, temperatures plunged to 20 degrees in Central Park, wind gusts hit 40 mph and large thick snowflakes were falling throughout the city.
By 4 p.m., roughly 6.5 inches were on the ground, but the National Weather Service predicts the city could see as much as 16 inches of snow before the storm moves on.
City schools were closed on Wednesday, but Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the public schools would be open on Thursday.
Just before noon, the snowfall seemed to taper off a bit, only to pick back up at roughly 12:30. The storm was expected to get worse throughout the afternoon.
The storm was starting to wreak havoc on area transportation.
Flights into and out of LaGuardia, John F. Kennedy and Newark Liberty airports were canceled. Amtrak halted service to Boston, but trains were still heading toward Washington, DC, although the rail agency said travelers should we wary of delays.
The MTA reported no major subway delays prior to the evening rush, but all buses were running local throughout the city — many of the buses sporting tire chains for extra traction.
Certain subway lines would not run their full routes, the MTA said. For example, the 2 train was terminating at South Ferry in lower Manhattan and heading back uptown instead of to Brooklyn as the transit agency was storing trains in the tunnels. The 5 train was also turning around, but at Bowling Green.
City Council, the courts system and some cultural institutions shut down for the day. Here's a comprehensive list of what's closed and what's open.
Usually-bustling areas such as Midtown and the Financial District were virtual ghost towns. Still some commuters braved the storm to head into work.
“Instead of taking the ferry I took the bus,” said Rita Giacomelli, 58, from New Jersey, who was on her way to the Mercantile Exchange downtown. “A lot of people stay home so the commute's not that bad”
Public and Catholic schools were closed Wednesday and in the early morning hours, some parents and children were out enjoying the snow day.
Battery Park City dad, Paul, who declined to give his last name, took his sons Quinn, 8, and Griffin, 2, out for an early morning sled ride.
"The kids were so excited last night we went out to Paragon Sports and bought all this snow gear," Paul said, adding that Griffin was up at 4 a.m., ready to play in the white stuff. "Too bad it wasn't on sale."
Parents looking to take a break from building snowmen can head to the American Folk Museum, which is offering free admission for the snow day.
Some local universities, however, including Baruch College and FIT, were also closed. Most flights into and out of LaGuardia, John F. Kennedy and Newark Liberty airports were canceled.
Alternate side parking rules were suspended as well.
All Manhattan courts were closed Wednesday, though some city courts remain open for arraignments and emergency proceedings in Family and Criminal courts.
The New York Public Library system is also closed. Early Wednesday morning, the library advised via Twitter, "Stay home if you can with a book."
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