Blizzard warning on LI, region could get 10-16 inches

Spared days ago when a monstrous storm buried much of the mid-Atlantic states under a smothering blanket of historic snow, this time around it seems there will be no last-minute reprieve for Long Island.

An early-morning snow that already figures to make a mess of the morning commute is expected to become a full-out blizzard by mid-afternoon, dumping between 10 and 16 inches of snow on the Island, the National Weather Service said.

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The Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for Long Island at 3:40 a.m. Wednesday — and said it will remain in effect until 6 a.m. Thursday.
And forecasters are warning of treacherous conditions with wind gusts of up to 40 mph expected Wednesday afternoon, leading to what were called “severe winter weather conditions.” These include the potential for downed trees, tree limbs and power lines, as well as white-out conditions that, forecasters said, could make travel “extremely dangerous.”

Road conditions had begun to deteriorate rapidly on major highways by 5 a.m. with a thin layer of slush and ice starting to form even on the main lanes of the Long Island Expressway in Nassau and Suffolk.

Secondary roads had a thick coating of wet, heavy snow.

SEE PHOTOSSnowstorms that buried LI over the past 100-plus years

The Long Island Rail Road had no reported delays as of 5:45 a.m. and there were no delays at area airports. However, the Long Island Rail Road may suspend service later Wednesday once accumulations surpass 10 inches — and the Federal Aviation Administration has advised air travelers to expect delays and cancellations Wednesday at area airports.

The Weather Service had this advice: “Do not travel.”

And New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg urged drivers to leave their cars at home, warning conditions could lead to drivers become stranded or have accidents and said then those drivers will say: “I should have listened to that guy.”

Forecasters are calling for an average of about 1 to 2 inches of snow per hour and said snowfall will be “heavy” at times. Snow also could mix with sleet at times throughout the morning, forecasters said.

Just before dawn temperaturs were hovering right around the freezing mark but a high of 36 degrees is expected, which could affect accumulations. Lows are expected in the mid-20s Wednesday night, with snow continuing into Thursday morning. Forecasters are calling for a partly sunny day Thursday, but said we can expect a stiff wind — somewhere between 17 and 20 mph.

Meteorologist John Cristanello said the storm had come on “a little more in earnest overnight, at least than previously thought." That no doubt led the Weather Service to upgrade from a Winter Storm Warning to a Blizzard Warning.

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PHOTOS: Classic snow storms | This winter on Long Island | Animals in the snow!