Forecasters Thursday afternoon issued a winter storm warning for parts of Long Island as snowfall totals for the region also increased.
The warning, which runs from 10 p.m. Thursday to 4 p.m. Friday, is for Suffolk County, which is now expected to get 4 to 7 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service’s Upton office. Much of Nassau County, which is under a winter weather advisory until 2 p.m. Friday, could see up to 6 inches of snow.
The winter storm warning means “severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring,” the weather service said on its website. “Significant amounts of snow are forecast that will make travel dangerous.”
The storm will begin Thursday night and continue through most of the day Friday—meaning a potentially messy morning commute.
Aside from possible heavy snowfall at times, roads could become hazardous and slippery. Temperatures will be around freezing and visibility could be less than a half-mile, forecasters said.
The weather service is urging people to refrain from travelling unless it’s an emergency. Drivers are recommended to keep any extra flashlight, food and water in their vehicles, the weather service said.
Aside from the snow, drivers will also have to contend with wind gusts of up to 25 miles per hour, which could contribute to reduced visibility.
The storm is expected to initially enter the region as rain before transitioning to snow overnight, forecasters said. The storm is likely to have an impact on Friday’s morning commute.
Temperatures on Friday should remain around freezing throughout the day before plunging into the teens in the evening. Gusts as high as 30 mph will make it feel more like zero to 10 degrees outside, forecasters said.
The storm should clear out by Friday night and give way to sunny skies this weekend.
And don’t look now but forecasters are eyeing yet another snow storm early next week.
