Snowstorm could turn city into a slippery, dangerous mess

A quick, intense snowstorm will bear down on the city Wednesday, turning roads into a slippery mess and ushering in teeth-chattering temperatures.

A travel advisory was issued by the city Wednesday because of the dangerous squall early in the afternoon that could coat roads with up to 2 inches of snow.

The approximately 20-minute storm will be “kind of like a thunderstorm that comes in through the summertime,” Accu­Weather senior meteorologist Dave Dombek said. “It’s very noticeable — but brief.”

Still, travel may be affected as roads get coated with snow.

“A wintry mix of snow and rain could cause for messy commutes … Wednesday. The combination of snow and the decrease in temperatures may produce spots of black ice. We advise New Yorkers to take mass transit where possible, exercise caution, and allow for extra travel time,” said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Joseph Esposito.

After the storm, frigid temperatures will grip the city, getting down as low as 5 degrees Wednesday, though it’ll feel like below zero all day after 5 p.m.

The freeze will last until at least Friday, meteorologists predict.

“Stay indoors as much as possible. If you have to go outdoors, limit your time and bundle up,” Esposito said.

The mind-numbing temperatures mirror a dip in the mercury across the country as a polar vortex rolls through.

Temperatures in the Midwest have been hitting record lows. It was minus 42 degrees Wednesday morning in Park Rapids., Minn., and the temperature was minus 23 at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, the coldest Jan. 30 since 1966, when it was minus 15 at the travel hub.

In preparation for the cold, the New York City Housing Authority added staff members to respond to heat and hot water outages in developments across the city.

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