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That "crippling and potentially historic” storm turned out to be neither of those things

Mayor De Blasio is insisting his dire warnings were a “no-brainer”… The storm is having in impact further north, however.

Cots line a hallway where stranded travelers slept at LaGuardia Airport in New York. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

NEW YORK AUTHORITIES and meteorologists have been defending a decision to shut down America’s biggest city for a storm that skirted the Big Apple, dumping the worst snow east and north.

Travel bans were lifted yesterday, public transport resumed and parks reopened in the city of eight million people, easing many of the measures put in place as WinterStorm Juno moved in on Monday.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city got only a fraction of the two feet (60 centimetres) of snow that had been widely predicted in the 48 hours leading up to the storm.

“You plan the best you can and you lean toward safety,” said New York state Governor Andrew Cuomo, fending off a barrage of questions.

It may actually have brought us back to full operating capacity sooner but I do not criticise weather forecasters. I learn.

The clean-up will continue until tomorrow, when schools will reopen, and city and state employees will return to work.

Stark warnings

Adgoy Ness / YouTube

De Blasio, who repeatedly warned before the storm struck that it was likely to be one of the worst in the city’s history, fended off accusations that he had been needlessly alarmist.

“To me, it was a no-brainer. We had to take precautions to keep people safe. God forbid this storm had not moved east, we would then have been hit,” he said.

Had travel not been banned, city residents would have been in possible mortal danger, and any economic impact would have been far more negative had there been more destruction, he said.

We are going to be very forceful in our messages to people when we sense danger.

The director of the National Weather Service later apologised for not better outlining the forecast uncertainty and said procedure would be reviewed.

“We need to make these uncertainties clear for decision makers to assess the risk, take action or do nothing knowing the level of uncertainty with each forecast,” said Louis Uccellini.

The Service said more than 30 inches (76 cm) fell in parts of Massachusetts, where the state capital Boston received more than 20 inches.

It warned that life-threatening conditions persist along the coast from Long Island in New York, into New England to the north.

Cars are buried by drifted snow along Marlborough Street in Boston. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Winter Weather A police officer questions the driver of a car that ended up on top of a tall snowbank in the middle of Commercial Street during a blizzard in Portland, Maine AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

On the streets of Manhattan, there were mixed feelings about whether the authorities had over-reacted.

“This is a mere dusting and I’ve been here for my whole life, with a little bit in London, and this is ridiculous, when they call it a storm,” said financial consultant Curtis Brill.

“People do have to be cautious and ice and driving do not mix, so it’s better to take precautions and not have accidents,” said Jennifer Daly, who works on New York’s Fifth Avenue.

Around 5,300 flights within, to and from the United States were cancelled as a result of the weather, according to flightaware.com.

Most Ireland-US flights are going ahead as planned today, although the 11am Delta service from Dublin to New York has been cancelled. A number of incoming flights have also been cancelled.

© AFP 2015 with reporting by Daragh Brophy.

Read: Nile Rodgers is tweeting incredible photos of deserted New York from his apartment window 

Read: Here’s how to avoid sliding all over the place in icy conditions tomorrow

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    Mute Imnoeinstein
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    Dec 12th 2017, 6:59 AM

    As I lie here in my warm bed I can hear the sound of crackling as passing cars drive over the frozen ice and slush. Be careful out there folks…

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    Mute Me_a_monkey
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    Dec 12th 2017, 7:05 AM

    My banana is frozen

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    Mute Me_a_monkey
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    Dec 12th 2017, 7:22 AM

    @John Cronin: I’m talking about my banana being frozen stiff… not my….. sausage?

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    Mute Lynda Jones
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    Dec 12th 2017, 10:00 AM

    @Me_a_monkey: so, you have a hard banana

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    Mute Lynda Jones
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    Dec 12th 2017, 10:02 AM

    @John Cronin: I would imagine a banana is thicker and longer than a sausage and more fulfilling when frozen

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    Mute Celia Ham
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    Dec 12th 2017, 12:46 PM

    @John Cronin: wth!

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    Mute Dave Malone
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    Dec 12th 2017, 9:37 AM

    It’s cold in Birr….

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello.
    Favourite Neal Ireland Hello.
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    Dec 12th 2017, 7:17 AM

    Where is your god now?

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    Mute David Huston
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    Dec 12th 2017, 11:01 AM

    @Neal Ireland Hello.: I Just found god where he always was.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHe8wXlugyc

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    Mute Rosemarie Martin
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    Dec 12th 2017, 9:31 AM

    I can see Tuesday is for Nerds on here. The West and midlands/North seem to really get it badly. Not funny for farmers [no time to warm their bananas] out at dawn snow or not to check on animals and then the elderly being snowed in. Nope I see nothing to laugh ab out.

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    Mute Stephen Foster
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    Dec 12th 2017, 9:59 AM

    @Rosemarie Martin: Your comment doesn’t really make sense. The term “Nerd” means overly intelligent.

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    Mute Anita OGalligan
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    Dec 12th 2017, 11:33 AM

    Oh well folks.I’m 6000 miles in Thailand in 31C, still I would love to see the snow in the warmth of the house, Hubby Skyped me yesterday but no snow in Wicklow and it was sunny. Could see plenty on TV!

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    Mute Brian O Reilly
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    Dec 12th 2017, 7:56 AM

    Gardai in Sligo say ,snzz ,snzz,snzz.

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    Mute Ste Collins
    Favourite Ste Collins
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    Dec 12th 2017, 3:10 PM

    be careful out there folks. I wouldn’t have to worry as I have the day off but be careful

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