Winter storm warning remains in effect Sunday and Monday

Updated: Jan. 24 at 4 p.m. – A winter storm warning remains in effect for the Long Island region from 3 a.m. Sunday to 6 p.m. Monday.  

Heavy snow is expected, with total snow and sleet accumulations between 7 and 13 inches, according the National Weather Service.

Snow will begin to fall early Sunday, with heavy snow before 1pm, then snow and sleet. The snow and sleet could be heavy at times before a change back over to light snow later Sunday night, the weather service said. Isolated wind gusts of 35 to 40 mph are possible for eastern Long Island, according to the NWS statement. 

Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous, the weather service said. Visibilities may drop below 1/4 mile due to falling and blowing snow, according to the forecast.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency in New York. County Executive Ed Romaine declared a state of emergency in Suffolk County.

A winter storm emergency has been declared in Riverhead Town and will be in effect starting Saturday at 9 p.m. and will continue until impacts of the winter storm event have abated. 

A winter storm emergency declaration requires all residents to remove their vehicles from the street to increase the effectiveness of snowplowing operations. The town code authorizes the Riverhead Police Department to impound parked or abandoned vehicles that affect the roadways during a snowstorm, Riverhead Police said in a press release.

Police ask that you delay all travel during this storm. If travel is absolutely necessary, drive with extreme caution, police said. Consider bringing a winter storm kit along with you, including such items as tire chains, booster cables, flashlight, shovel, blankets and extra clothing. Also take water, a first aid kit, and anything else that would help you survive in case you become stranded, police said.

In case of an emergency, dial 911 or call the Riverhead Police Department at 631-727-4500.

The Riverhead Highway Department is prepared to deal with the storm, Highway Superintendent Mike Zaleski said in an interview Thursday night.

All equipment and vehicles have been checked and repaired where needed, he said. 

“Plows are on, weights are in. Crews are pre-loading trucks Friday, cleaning windshields, fueling up, and checking chains,” Zaleski said. “We’ll be putting everything inside,” he said.

The highway department’s salt barn cover, which was torn off during a  previous storm, arrived and has been installed, just in time, Zaleski said. 

“We’ve been mixing salt and sand and I got some more salt orders. So my salt supply is in a good state,” he said.

While the flu had been circulating around the highway crew, leaving the department shorthanded during the last snow event, all but one crew member is healthy and back in service, Zaleski said. “I am down three positions, though,” he said.