Police: Crash briefly closes Wantagh parkway

A rash of early morning accidents briefly closed lanes of some major roads Tuesday, as the first flakes of an expected significant snowstorm began to coat road surfaces across Long Island.

A multiple-vehicle crash briefly closed the northbound Wantagh State Parkway at Old Country Road in Hicksville on Tuesday, State Police said.

The New York State Department of Transportation also reported lane closures on the northbound Meadowbrook State Parkway between the Southern State Parkway and Hempstead Turnpike along the East Meadow-Uniondale border, while westbound Sunrise Highway was the scene of a multivehicle crash in Patchogue.

The accident that closed the Wantagh reportedly involved five cars, State Police said, closing the road at about 9:15 a.m. The DOT said the road was reopened at 9:41 a.m.

It was unclear if weather was a factor in the crash and it was also unclear if anyone was injured in the crash.

State video traffic cameras showed the roadway covered in light snow. The DOT was advising motorists that a winter weather advisory is in effect -- and officials were urging drivers to use caution.