The National Weather Service has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook and Winter Storm Watch for Tuesday, January 21. The warnings are currently in effect from 12:00 PM Tuesday until 6:00 AM Wednesday morning.

While Long Island may enjoy a temperate high in the mid 40’s today, the temperature is expected to plummet overnight as a blast of arctic air travels south to chill the region. Highs of about 23 °F are predicted for tomorrow, with lows in the teens or even single digits. The NWS warns that wind of 15-25 mph with gusts up to 30 mph will produce chills that could make it feel below 0°.

An 80% change of precipitation during this cold snap will bring snow to the Island as well. Late morning-early afternoon flurries could drop 2-4 inches, and the snowfall is likely to double as the precipitation intensifies between Tuesday afternoon and evening. A total of 4-8 inches of snow is expected, with the possibility of 9” in Eastern Suffolk.

“Falling blowing and drifting snow will cause hazardous travel and walking conditions across the area... Possibly impacting the late afternoon and evening commute,” the NWS says. “Extreme cold and low wind chills could cause frost bite.”

Visibility may drop to only a quarter mile during the peak of the storm.

For the latest information on local School Closings & Delays, go to LongIsland.com’s School Closings Page.

For the most up to date weather information, visit the LongIsland.com Weather Center, where you can find the latest weather forecasts, advisories, and more.

[Source: National Weather Service]