Conditions are mostly sunny during the day, and for the...

Conditions are mostly sunny during the day, and for the most part, seasonably cold through Thursday, with light snow entering the picture Thursday night, the National Weather Service said. Credit: Newsday

Some light snow Thursday night. Possible snow and heavy rain on the weekend. An arctic blast Sunday into Monday.

Yes, winter on Long Island is finally grabbing hold, forecasters say.

Wednesday and Thursday will be mostly sunny, with a high of 40 degrees, then 30 or so, respectively. Then, “a quick moving but weak low pressure system” is set to deliver accumulating snow Thursday night into early Friday, the National Weather Service said.

For most of Long Island, that snow will be less than an inch, with 1 to 2 inches possible for northern Nassau County, said Carlie Buccola, weather service meteorologist in Upton.

Snow was expected to change to rain Friday morning on the Island, meaning a wet commute. However, if that changeover is slower, travel conditions could be hazardous, with reduced visibility and snow-covered roads, the weather service said.

Things, then, really get going Saturday night into Sunday, with “a significant storm system” generating “widespread heavy precipitation, strong winds, and possible coastal impacts," the weather service said. 

As of Tuesday evening, Long Island was looking at primarily rain to start, changing to snow Sunday afternoon and night.

However, the weather service said that “although models have been trending farther inland with this system,” meaning warmer and wetter conditions, it’s still four to five days off, so it's too early to make confident calls as to precipitation types and snow or rain amounts.

What does seem pretty well pinned down is a blast of arctic air arriving Sunday afternoon and Monday, with lows around 11 degrees and a high Monday, Martin Luther King Day, in the low 20s.

With roads wet, be it from rain or snow, Buccola said, a flash freeze is possible, making for dangerous driving.



 

Get the latest news and more great videos at NewsdayTV Credit: Newsday

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Get the latest news and more great videos at NewsdayTV Credit: Newsday

Concern over Nassau, ICE partnership ... SALT negotiations ... Fitness Fix: Deer Park Athletic Club ... Get the latest news and more great videos at NewsdayTV

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