Roads may remain slick for evening commute
Slow rush hour traffic on the wet westbound Southern State Pkwy at Meadowbrook Rd. in North Merrick this morning. (Jan. 16, 2013) Credit: Jim Staubitser
Wednesday's wintry mix of sleet and rain is tapering off, but roads may still be "slick and wet" during the evening commute, said Joe Pollina, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Upton.
As of about 5 p.m., the Federal Aviation Administration was reporting average delays of about two hours hour on arriving flights into LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty Airport. There were sporadic departure delays from Kennedy, Newark, LaGuardia and Long Island MacArthur airports, with the FAA advising travelers to check with their airlines. There were no reported weather delays on the Long Island Rail Road.
The LIRR did have scattered minor equipment delays.
While there may still be isolated showers, precipitation should be over in most areas by about 7 p.m., Pollina said. Partly sunny skies are forecast for Thursday, when temperatures return to the mid-40s.
Clearer skies are expected for the remainder of the week, and temperatures will get colder as the week progresses, according to the weather service.
The morning mix, coupled with overnight temperatures in the low 30s, made for treacherous, slick road conditions early Wednesday. Officials reported minor accidents on the Long Island Expressway -- one at Exit 39, eastbound and the other between Exits 46 and 48 eastbound -- as well as on other major parkways and roads.
