The massive winter storm that brought snow, ice and disruption across much of the U.S. yesterday and continues to pound New England this morning dropped from 7.5 inches to more than 12 inches of snow and sleet in the local area, according to National Weather Service reports.
“We got about a foot of snow,” Riverhead Highway Superintendent Mike Zaleski said this morning.
Town highway crews started salt-sanding the roads Sunday morning at 7 a.m. and worked through the day and night, with a short break before working through the night last night to plow the town again, followed by another application of salt-sand early this morning.
“We stayed on top of things. We didn’t let it build up a foot and then plow. We kept plowing every four inches,” Zaleski said.
The sleet last night was actually helpful, he said. “It makes it so we can see better. It ain’t blinding white snow, so visibility for us is better. The sleet crusted the top of the powdery snow, so that stopped it from drifting as much, and it just worked to our advantage,” Zaleski said. “And putting down salty sand earlier helped with the ice pack. We’re doing it again as we speak. And that’ll help when the sunlight comes out,” he said.
The winter storm warning for the Long Island region has been discontinued. A small craft advisory is in effect for local waters until 1 p.m. Tuesday, the National Weather Service said.
Hazardous travel conditions due to icy roadways and walkways will linger throughout the day, the weather service said in a statement. Very little snow melt is expected, NWS forecasters said. Temperatures today will moderate some, but should fall just short of freezing this afternoon with most wind chills today struggling to get out of the middle and upper teens, according to the National Weather Service in New York.
Temperatures tonight into Tuesday will drop down into the single digits and lower teens and wind chills near or just below zero, according to the NWS forecast. Highs on Tuesday will only reach the upper teens and lower 20s. More widespread single digits are anticipated Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning, the weather service said.
Skies will remain cloudy today, with a 40% chance of snow mainly before 1 p.m., according to the NWS forecast.
“Although the accumulating snow has ended, roadways and walkways will remain icy and slippery with some occasional light snow and flurries through this morning. Some locations have received spotty light freezing drizzle as well. Exercise caution if traveling or being outdoors as temperatures will remain well below freezing,” the weather service said in a special weather statement this morning.
County roads in the area, such as Route 58, and state roads are showing blacktop, Zaleski said. “Believe it or not, I noticed a lot of traffic this morning too. While cars on the road creates problems for plowing, they also work in the salt and sand, which penetrates the ice and snow pack, breaking everything up, he said.
“I wouldn’t expect our side roads to be down to blacktop. We just don’t have the salt budget like everybody else, but they are definitely plowed off,” Zaleski said. “I would expect spotty areas with blacktop, but most roads will remain white,” he said. “Everything is double salted, sanded, and plowed,” he said. Town highway crews will be out every night this week cleaning up and salt-sanding, the highway superintendent said.
Zaleski urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel today. “If you don’t have to go out, stay home,” he said.
The town will be fully open tomorrow on all levels — school, town, stores, Zaleski said. Today, town, county, state and private property owners are all working hard to get things cleaned up, he said. “They’re all on top of things on all levels.”
Riverhead Supervisor Jerry Halpin praised the town’s essential workers who responded throughout the storm. Highway Department crews working for more than 24 hours straight, town police who answered the calls of people in need all day and night, ambulance crews who answered numerous emergency calls, the Buildings and Grounds crews clearing snow from municipal lots and walkways, the senior center workers who took frozen meals to senior residents in the Meals on Wheels program, all did an amazing job, Halpin said.
He urged residents to be careful about shoveling snow. “It’s heavy,” he said, because of the sleet that mixed in with snow later in the day Sunday and overnight.
“Make sure you have someone who knows you’re shoveling,” Halpin said. Follow precautions, he said, shovel for no more than 20 minutes, then take a 20 minute rest.
“Check on your neighbors,” he said.
He asked those who are capable to clear snow from fire hydrants near their homes.
RiverheadLOCAL photos by Peter Blasl
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