Blizzard

Areas of blowing and drifting snow will limit visibility and make travel difficult Sunday morning, the National Weather Service said in a statement. Travel may be hazardous. Some roads are impassable due to drifts, according to police radio reports.

Riverhead has had accumulations of 16 to 20 inches across town as of 2 p.m., Highway Superintendent Mike Zaleski said this afternoon.

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.

With a potentially major snowstorm on Long Island's doorstep, Riverhead schools and businesses are closing tomorrow in anticipation of dangerous travel conditions, 55 mile-per-hour wind gusts and possible power outages.

Storm's expected track means changeover to or mix with sleet and rain late Tuesday morning/afternoon will reduce snow accumulations, though very heavy snow likely Tuesday morning.

A significant snowstorm is expected to bring between 12 to 18 inches of snow to the area Tuesday, with wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service.

Yesterday's blizzard dropped 10 to 16 inches across the region, which fell on top of freezing rain and sleet, making for icy road surfaces this morning, Highway Superintendent George Woodson said.

When the weather outside is frightful and the fire is so delightful — most of us have the luxury of staying home for a “snow day.” Not these folks.

A blizzard shaping up to be much worse than what had been predicted just 24 hours ago has Suffolk County on lockdown. Temperatures are dropping into the 20s, with bands of heavy snow moving through the area bringing snowfall rates of one to three inches per hour and howling winds.

The blizzard bearing down on the Northeast this morning will bring heavy snow and strong winds to the region. A blizzard warning remains in effect until 9 p.m. A gale warning is also in effect.