National Weather Service Issues Winter Weather Advisory; Mixed Precipitation, 2 to 4 Inches of Snow, Ice Expected
Long Island, NY - February 20, 2019 - Winter 2019 continues to underwhelm in terms of snowfall totals and ice-cold temperatures, but here and there we get a gentle reminder that it’s still not spring yet. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for Nassau and Suffolk counties starting at noon today and lasting until 1 a.m. Thursday, with a mix of snow and rain expected that could produce accumulation as high as 4 inches in some parts of Nassau, according to reports.
Snow is expected to begin between 12 and 3 p.m. this afternoon, with some accumulation before transitioning over to a wintery mix this evening at approximately 6 p.m., before transitioning once again over to pure rainfall by 9 p.m., according to the NWS.
Some regions of western and eastern Nassau are expected to bear the brunt of the precipitation, with the forecast calling for 2 to 4 inches of snow in those areas; Suffolk is expected to get off slightly easier with a projected 1 to 3 inches of snow. Snowfall could reach amounts of up to an inch each hour in the evening, if current projections hold.
Forecasters are warning residents to be aware of the potential for wet and icy roads that could have an impact upon the evening work commute; motorists are advised to take caution with driving and reduce speeds to be safe.
Temperatures are expected to remain at or below the freezing mark this afternoon, but will increase as the evening progresses, going from the low-30’s to the low-40’s; hence the nighttime transition of the snowfall into rain, NWS says.
In contrast, Thursday’s forecast is expected to be the polar opposite of today’s; the overnight rain is expected to clear up by approximately 8 a.m., with skies clearing as the day progresses and temperatures reaching as high 50 degrees of more.
A NWS Winter Weather Advisory means that periods of snow, sleet or freezing rain will cause travel difficulties. Expect slippery roads and limited visibilities, and use caution while driving. Check local Department of Transportation information services for the latest road conditions.
PSEG Long Island has issued the following information in light of the upcoming inclement weather:
- To report and receive status updates on an outage Text OUT to PSEGLI (773454) or to report an outage online visit www.psegliny.com
- Follow PSEG Long Island on Facebook and Twitter to report an outage and to get updates before, during and after the storm
- Downed wires should always be considered “live.” Do not approach or drive over a downed line and do not touch anything contacting the wire. To report a downed wire call PSEG Long Island’s 24-hour Electric Service number: 1-800-490-0075
- Visit PSEG Long Island’s outage map to view outage information across Long Island and the Rockaways at https://outagemap.psegliny.com
- Make sure everyone in the family is prepared and knows what to do if there is an emergency. Visit https://www.psegliny.com/page.cfm/Home/Safety to learn about safety tips, view YouTube safety videos, and more.
The full current NWS forecast throughout the upcoming weekend is as follows:
- Today: Snow, mainly after noon. High near 32. Wind chill values between 20 and 25. Northeast wind around 7 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
- Tonight: Snow before 9pm, then rain and sleet between 9pm and 11pm, then rain after 11pm. Temperature rising to around 39 by 3am. Wind chill values between 25 and 30. Southeast wind 9 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow and sleet accumulation of around an inch possible.
- Thursday: A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly before 8am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 49. West wind 7 to 13 mph.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 34. Northwest wind 11 to 13 mph.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 43. Northwest wind 6 to 10 mph.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31.
- Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 44.
- Saturday Night: Rain. Low around 37. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
- Sunday: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 50. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of rain before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37.