Blizzard 2018

The arctic cold this weekend froze pipes all around town, resulting in breaks and flooding in commercial spaces, while blocked exhaust vents mean gas odors indoors. It's all kept volunteer firefighters extremely busy.

Local roads are all open and passable, Highway Superintendent George Woodson said this morning. They remain covered in packed snow and may be icy, so motorists should drive slow and use extra caution.

Currently all roads except Reeves Avenue have at least one lane of travel open, but police warn that road conditions may change at any time due to lingering strong, gusty winds which will continue to blow snow from open fields onto adjacent roadways. Whiteout conditions may occur.

Several dozen disabled vehicles, many of them abandoned overnight, are cluttering the roads that cut through the town's farm belt this morning. Town highway workers and police have been working through the night to assist motorists and open roads. County tow trucks are coming out to help this morning.

All north-south roadways in Riverhead and Sound Avenue east of Roanoke are impassible due this morning due to snow drifts. There are numerous disabled vehicles across town, many of them abandoned by their operators, contributing to the hazards. Police urge motorists to stay off the roads this morning.

Blowing, drifting snow is "wreaking havoc" with town roads, causing numerous vehicles to get stuck in drifts. Police have shut down multiple roads from Wading River to Laurel.

Police worked day and night to pull, push and dig disabled motorists blocking roads all over town, as highway crews struggled against strong winds to keep roads open.

A state of emergency has been declared by the Riverhead town supervisor, Suffolk county executive and New York governor as a blizzard pounds Suffolk County this morning.

With snowfall rates of one to two inches per hour, blowing and drifting snow will cause whiteout conditions, making travel 'very dangerous to impossible,' the National Weather Service said. Officials urge residents to avoid all travel.

Closings, cancellations and delays for Riverhead schools and businesses due to Thursday's snowstorm.