Now New York City suspends outdoor dining: Bars and restaurants will only be allowed to serve takeout from Wednesday as massive snow storm heads for the North East
New York City will suspend outdoor dining starting Wednesday afternoon due to a major storm that will bring heavy snow across the state.
On Monday New York City’s Department of Sanitation issued a Snow Alert for Wednesday starting at 2pm when a powerful nor'easter is forecast to barrel through the East Coast and could dump eight inches of snow or more on the Big Apple.
As a result restaurants are ordered to be closed to outdoor dining starting at 2pm 'to protect the safety of patrons.'
The city will notify restaurants, which are already closed to indoor dining due to surging coronavirus cases, when they can reopen for roadway seating.
New York City will suspend outdoor dining starting at 2pm on Wednesday due to a major snow storm heading towards the city. A view of outdoor dining at the restaurant French Roast in Manhattan above
Indoor dining in New York City has been closed since Sunday for two weeks. A view inside Tom's restaurant on Monday after indoor dining was halted above
A view of closed indoor dining at Interior of Community Food & Juice on Monday
Restaurants will take another hit now that indoor dining is closed as outdoor dining will be suspended on Wednesday due to the nor'easter. A view stacked up chairs and stools inside Cafe Du Soleil on Monday in Manhattan above
The eerily empty interior of Metro Diner in Manhattan pictured on Monday
The Department of Sanitation issued a guidance to restaurant owners saying diners are not allowed to sit in roadway set ups and restaurants should remove or secure any tables or chairs in roadways on Wednesday. A view inside the empty Cilantro restaurant on Monday above
Lure Fishbar in New York was empty on Monday with no diners inside
The view of the empty interior of Lola Taverna in New York city after indoor dining was shut down
The Washington Square Diner in New York is completely empty on Monday
The restaurant King in New York is left empty on Monday following new coronavirus guidance
'Based on the current forecast, the City estimates that this Snow Alert will be over on Thursday evening, allowing restaurants to reopen, but this may change to the morning of Friday, December 18 based on actual accumulations and roadway conditions,' the city's sanitation department said Monday.
'At this time, the City is not asking that restaurants remove any barriers or structures for roadway dining,' the department added.
The Department of Sanitation issued a guidance to restaurant owners saying diners are not allowed to sit in roadway set ups and restaurants should remove or secure any tables or chairs in roadways.
All electrical heaters and overhead coverings should also be removed.
The National Weather Service in New York released this expected snowfall map predicting up to 13 inches of show in New York City, 16 inches in White Plains and six inches in Montauk
This map shows the outlook of rain and snowfall from Tuesday through Thursday in the fierce nor'easter that will drench cities and dump snow in Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York
The department is already preparing for the storm with salt spreader vehicles 'filled and ready to go' and collection trucks that will be turned into snow plows once two inches of snow has fallen.
If needed the department will use its 'brine trucks' to apply liquid salt to roads that are susceptible to freezing quickly.
The shutdown of outdoor dining due to weather will only further the strain on already struggling restaurants in New York City.
Indoor dining was closed on Sunday at 10pm for two weeks to slow the spread of COVID-19 with restaurants only allowed to operate with outdoor dining and take-out.
In New York state more than 784,000 people have tested positive for COVID-19 and there have been more than 27,800 deaths.
The empty interior of the Bistro Les Amis on Monday after restaurants were told indoor dining was closed on Sunday
The restaurant Shuka in New York is eerily quiet as diners are not allowed to eat indoors due to coronavirus
Tables and chairs are stacked up in the empty interior of restaurant Niche Niche on Monday
Members of staff are alone in the empty Numero 28 restaurant in New York on Monday
Waverly Diner in New York is empty on Monday after Cuomo announced indoor dining must shut down to stem the spread of coronavirus
The shutdown of outdoor dining due to weather will only further the strain on already struggling restaurants in New York City. Indoor dining was closed on Sunday at 10pm for two weeks to slow the spread of COVID-19 with restaurants only allowed to operate with outdoor dining and take-out. A view of outdoor dining at Nice Matin above
A view of outdoor dining at La Sirene in Manhattan above over the weekend
Under a Snow Alert, which results when there’s over an inch of snow, roadway dining must close, which could pose a major challenge for New York restaurants in the winter months
Mayor Bill de Blasio admitted that December and January will be difficult months for restaurant operators.
'I feel for the 100,000 or more New Yorkers working in the industry right now, and so many more are used to. We've got to bring this industry back. We've got to bring back the restaurants, but it's going to take time,' he said.
Under the Department of Sanitation’s guidelines outdoor dining can continue under a Winter Operations Advisory which results when there’s less than an inch of snow accumulation.
But under a Snow Alert, which results when there’s over an inch of snow, roadway dining must close.
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