CHELSEA — Windswept Chelsea residents tried to go about their normal business on Friday morning as rains from the oncoming Winter Storm Nemo pelted the city.
Despite the weather, most in the neighborhood treated Friday as a regular work day — if a gloomy one.
Brenda Cartwright, 29, said that no one from her office skipped work, though she planned to leave early.
"Honestly, I thought this snowstorm would have more snow," she said after losing a battle over control of her umbrella to a strong gust on Eighth Avenue.
Forecasters are predicting that's yet to come, with 10 to 14 inches predicted to have fallen by Saturday morning.
A small number of shoppers milled around the Manhattan Fruit Exchange in Chelsea Market on Friday morning, but few seemed concerned about stocking up on supplies.
"This is my normal time to shop," said one woman, who declined to give her name.
The Gristedes at West 26th Street and Eighth Avenue was quiet, though staff there said they expected a rush in the afternoon.
Workers at Prince Lumber were busy unloading pallets of salt and selling shovels to neighbors worried about digging out after the storm's brunt hits.
"All it's been today is salt and shovels," said a worker.
"Especially salt. We've sold pallets and pallets of the stuff."
One group in the neighborhood had their fingers crossed for a winter wonderland appearing overnight. Staff at the High Line sent out a memo early in the day telling families in the neighborhood that if enough snow falls, the park will host a Snow Sculpt-Off competition on Saturday for adults and kids.
