Brooklyn began digging out on Monday, as the second day of a Winter Storm Fern brought buried cars, icy streets and lingering snow — but far fewer disruptions than originally feared.
After steady snowfall blanketed the borough on Sunday, conditions slightly improved overnight as plows continued to clear major roadways, and many neighborhoods reported passable streets by morning. While sidewalks remained slick in spots and parked cars were still encased in snow, residents and business leaders said the storm’s overall impact has been manageable.
New York City saw estimated snow totals of 11 to 14 inches, according to the National Weather Service, with Brooklyn neighborhoods reporting 12 inches in Williamsburg, 11.3 inches in Flatbush, 10.5 inches in Sheepshead Bay, 10.2 inches in Bay Ridge, 9.5 inches in Bedford-Stuyvesant, and 8.9 inches in Midwood as of Sunday night.
In Sunset Park, resident Lisa Chong said city services helped keep life moving, even at the height of the storm.
“The snow hasn’t really affected us in any large capacity, especially due to the city’s quick snowplow efforts,” Chong said. “Even on the day of the winter storm, I was able to go outside and hop on the MTA, which was fully functional. The only downside to all this snow is having to shovel, especially if you need your vehicle for work.”
In Dumbo, residents also reported quieter streets and slower-paced routines as the storm lingered into its second day.
Mom-of-two Ashley Niedringhaus spent both days sledding with family. Her daughter Amelia, in pre-kindergarten, celebrated her birthday today. After their remote learning “morning meeting,” they will go sledding with friends in their building.
“The snowplows were barreling through here, but it was well-organized and taken care of,” she said. “Overall, it has been a positive experience for the kids — a quintessential snow day.”
The storm’s timing — stretching through the weekend — helped limit economic disruption, according to the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. Randy Peers, the chamber’s president and CEO, said there have been no reports of major incidents such as roof collapses or widespread infrastructure damage.
“We are still assessing things, but nothing major has come up,” Peers said. “Of course, some retailers have chosen to close today. We made the decision to close our two Brooklyn Made Store locations. The Chamber is operating remotely, and many of our office-based businesses are doing the same.”
Peers noted that the advanced warning and the weekend schedule helped soften the blow.
“If the bulk of the storm occurred during a work week, and not on a Sunday, we would have had more disruption,” he said. “But in this case, we had ample warning ahead of time.”
Mark Caserta, the chamber’s vice president of small business support, said early signs suggest merchants are adapting well.
“I haven’t heard any complaints or concerns from small businesses, either directly or on social media,” Caserta said. “Here in Bay Ridge, where I live, the streets are pretty clear. Merchants are clearing sidewalks. The biggest issue is that cars are buried in icy snow.”
He added that while there was not a big response from Brooklyn Business Improvement Districts, some mom-and-pop shops in nabes like Park Slope chose to remain closed due to street clearing and what he described as “problematic” parking.
