LIE reopens in Medford after 3-vehicle crash, as road conditions improve on Long Island

Icy road conditions impacted the morning commute in both counties, with a rash of crashes causing traffic backups.

Among them were a three-vehicle crash that closed the Westbound Long Island Expressway at Exit 64 in Medford, but since has been cleared. A crash on the eastbound expressway between Exit 39W in North Hempstead and Jericho Turnpike at Exit 40 caused delays in the area, according to the state Department of Transportation's 511NY.org.

Temperatures were in the mid-30s just after 10 a.m., after a colder start to the day spurred a National Weather Service special weather statement at 5:40 a.m. warning of possible black ice.

"Patchy black ice is possible this morning as temperatures are right around freezing and roads are still wet from yesterday`s precipitation," according to the statement.

The service said conditions would improve as temperatures rose into the mid and upper 30s.