Weather: South Shore picks up most snow with some areas getting more than 6 inches
Olivia Dilone, 7, of Freeport, with her dad Joel Dilone, behind her, and her brother Greyson Dilone, 3, right, sleds at Baldwin Park on Saturday. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
The snowfall overnight was heavier on the South Shore of Long Island, according to the National Weather Service.
The weather service said the top totals in Nassau were Oceanside with 6.6 inches, Hewlett, 5 inches, Massapequa, 5.8, Bellmore, 5.5, and Valley Stream, 5.5 inches. In Suffolk, the highest totals were North Patchogue with 5.6 inches, Shirley at 5.3 inches, North Babylon, 4.7 inches, West Islip and Mastic Beach, 4.5 inches.
In New York City, Central Park got 2 inches and Kennedy Airport 6.1 inches, the weather service said.
The totals were about 2 to 5 inches of snow throughout much of Long Island and the region. Earlier Saturday, a winter weather advisory had been in effect.
The second winter storm in under a week left messy sidewalks and some residents were surprised by the overnight accumulation.
“The weather app showed like an inch and a half,” said Ted Levine, 67, of Baldwin, as he cleared some 5 inches of snow from his car on Saturday morning.
Aryanna Zito, 17, cleans snow off car in Shirley on Saturday morning. Credit: Tom Lambui
However, unlike the storm on Tuesday, he noted a bright spot: “The roads look clean.”
John Misak, 53, of Baldwin, said he expected to wake up and shovel “maybe an inch or two, tops,” not 4 to 5 inches.
At Baldwin Park, Jonathan Paulino, 37, of Baldwin, was enjoying the snowy morning with his son Elias, 7.
“I woke up early and I was surprised,” said Paulino. “I shoveled it, put some salt down and came here.”
With a snowball in hand and exhausted from the morning activities, Elias said he was looking forward to a trip to the mall later in the day.
Elsewhere in the park, Steve Morse, 67, of Baldwin, was clearing snow from the paddle ball courts in the hope of playing, as usual, in the coming days with a group of eight to 10 others.
“I told all my guys … I said everybody be here at 9 o'clock. Nobody came,” he said with a laugh.
Gary Stack, 40, shovels snow from his driveway in Yaphank on Saturday morning. Credit: Tom Lambui
Meanwhile at Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay on Saturday morning, dozens stepped into a vibrant flourish of fauna to escape the wintry weather.
Margot and Mark Bridgen, both 68, of Southold, said the roads were clear enough for them to make the 90-minute trek to see the colorful flowers at the Camellia Festival.
“Normally we wouldn’t go anywhere in the snow, but we said, ‘Oh, the roads look fine,’ ” said Mark Bridgen.
The contrast of the snow-covered branches outside the greenhouse against the vivid shades of pastel-like flowers only enhanced the experience, Margot Bridgen said.
“It makes it more special,” she said.
Debbie Drasche, 64, of Commack, said the festival taking place on a snowy Saturday is a way to look forward “to the start of better weather around here.”
Saturday's forecast calls for snow to end around noon, “then a chance of snow showers, mainly between noon and 3 p.m.,” with a high near 38 degrees and wind gusts. The total daytime accumulation could be 1 to 2 inches. The low temperature is expected to be near 22.
Sunday is expected to see a high near 38 degrees and a low near 28.
With Janon Fisher
