Travel advisory

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

All westbound lanes on State Route 24 (Riverhead-Hampton Bays Road) between Montauk Highway (Suffolk County Route 80) and Sunrise Highway (State Route 27)...

Riverhead Town Police are urging motorists to use extra caution when traveling late this afternoon and tonight, due to the possibility of black ice on road surfaces as temperatures fall to around 20ºF. 

The Town of Riverhead has issued a snow emergency in advance of the impending snow storm. The snow emergency will go into effect at 6 p.m., the town supervisor said in a weather and travel advisory this morning.

Snow is expected to continue through about 8 a.m., with accumulations of less than an inch. Highway crews are out salting roadways, which are snow-covered. Forecasters, meanwhile, are keeping a close eye on a major winter storm expected to impact the region Saturday night into Sunday, with the potential for snow, sleet, freezing rain and ice on the East End.

Motorists should expect overnight lane closures this week on the L.I. Expressway between exists 32 and 73 for pavement marking operations.

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.

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.

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.

Officials urge residents to stay off the roads as blowing winds, drifting snow, frigid temperatures and black ice combine to make for extremely hazardous travel in Riverhead this evening.