Blizzard warning

Latest updates on local impacts of the 'major blizzard' that pummeled the region with heavy snow, high winds and coastal flooding. Monday.

Travel is banned throughout Suffolk County as of 9 p.m. Sunday night, as the region braces for a major winter storm heading up the coast that's expected to drop up to 23 inches of snow on Long Island.

A winter storm the National Weather Service is now calling “potentially historic” is forecast to drop 16-24 inches of snow across the region, with moderate to locally major coastal flooding and wind gusts of up to 60 mph.

A blizzard warning is in effect for Long Island and the New York City metro area from 1 p.m. Sunday through 6 p.m. Monday.

Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches an hour are possible this morning, locally up to 3 inches an hour, with wind gusts up to 60 mph causing blowing & drifting snow, making travel extremely difficult to impossible. Up to 20 inches of total accumulations are now forecast for the East End.

Blowing winds and snowfall rates of around 2 inches per hour will create whiteout conditions Saturday, making travel extremely difficult to impossible, according to the National Weather Service. Accumulations of 11 to 17 inches forecast. A blizzard warning remains in effect through 7 p.m. tomorrow.

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.

The blizzard warning is in effect from 3 a.m. to 6 p.m. tomorrow, the National Weather Service in Upton said in a warning issued at 3:17 p.m.

Suffolk County transit bus service is suspended today. The LIRR is still running with “good service” on the Ronkonkoma line, but delays are being reported on the Montauk and Port Jefferson lines. Train service may be suspended or cancelled, according to the LIRR. Getting to a train station by car will be hazardous, officials warn.

A blizzard warning is now in effect for 4 a.m. tomorrow through noon Sunday for Long Island, New York City and coastal portions of northeast New Jersey. A coastal flood advisory is also in effect for Saturday night.