The first major snowstorm of the season started to wallop the Big Apple on Wednesday night, leaving the town a ghost town of treacherous roads, although some locals braved the cold weather to catch a few drinks on the sidewalk.
As temperatures fell to 27 degrees with frigid sustained winds of up to 35 mph, Winter Storm Gail hammered the area, making dining outdoors intolerable in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic that has already devastated the restaurant industry.
"In one of those outdoor plastic [restaurant] bubbles, my own little winter wonderland, I was really looking forward to drinking something hot and alcoholic. But alas, the town is still going to find a way to ruin fun, isn't it? 'Said Olivia Bolat, 23, a student who was out in Williamsburg for a snowy walk. "So, I guess I'm going to mix my own hot baby and drink it out of my window."
A Williamsburg teacher, Orpha Peterson, 39, said The snow is a guilty pleasure because I know it brings a lot of pain and suffering to companies that are barely hanging on."
Restaurants would have to suspend outdoor dining setups on the roadways starting on Wednesday afternoon until the storm is over, probably Thursday night, the Sanitation Department said.
Thankfully, AccuWeather senior meteorologist John Feerick said the strong storm is predicted to taper off around noon Thursday.
In the afternoon, there will be a few lingering flurries, but it will be winding down," Feerick said, noting temperatures will rise slightly to the low 30s." "It's still going to feel very cold for the next few days, more like teenagers."
He added, "If you can stay in it, travel is going to be rough."
But that didn't deter New Yorkers from getting family and friends to grab dinner and drinks.
Some patrons dressed comfortably and dined on the sidewalk at Fanneli's Cafe in Soho as they dropped shots of whiskey.
Smoking a cigar was another bundled-up client who ordered a drink as the snow kept falling throughout the night. Starting Monday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo banned indoor dining, but allowed the continuation of takeout, delivery and outdoor dining.
The storm, which will be partially sunny with a high of 32 degrees, is predicted to be fully over by early Friday. With a high of 32, Saturday is expected to be gloomy.
But it is not anticipated that the snow will melt until Sunday, hitting temperatures of up to 39 degrees, Feerick said. "It looks like he's here to stay for a couple of days at least," he said.
