Two to five inches of snow forecast for LI Thursday into Friday, forecasters say
Canadian Geese fly overhead on an overcast day at Lake Ronkonkoma County Park in Lake Ronkonkoma Wednesday. Credit: Linda Rosier
After a warmer Wednesday marked by on and off rain, temperatures are dipping again before up to 5 inches of snow arrives on eastern Long Island Thursday night into Friday morning, forecasters said.
The National Weather Service said in a statement Wednesday evening that snow totals will increase west to east on Long Island, with the East End predicted to get between 4 and 5 inches and Nassau and Western Suffolk getting between 2 and 3 inches.
The service said it was watching the track of the storm, which would produce more snow for Long Island if it moves closer to the coast.
Earlier Wednesday, ice-slicked roads were blamed for several crashes, including a 15-vehicle pileup that sent "multiple" people to hospitals with minor injuries.
But as temperatures rose to the 40s, ice turned to rain, which is clearing Wednesday night. A low of 32 is expected with wind chills of between 25 and 30 degrees, the weather service said.
Thursday’s weather switches to sunny skies, and chiller temperatures, with a daytime high topping out at 40 — then dropping to a low of 28 degrees with a wind chill of between 20 and 25, the forecasters said, ushering in the snow overnight.
The snow should end Friday morning, in time for the sun to appear, and the daytime high should be around freezing.
Then one of two brief cold snaps sets in: Friday night’s low is expected to be 20.
Saturday will be sunny but that cold lingers, with thermometers expected to reach only 32 during the day, the weather service said.
That night also will be chilly: temperatures will drop to about 22 under cloudy skies.
Sunday, however, will be warmer — the daytime high should hit 46 — and once again, the tristate area may see more rain, with those odds assessed at 50% after 2 p.m.
By nightfall, snow may mix in with that rain; the odds are 50%.
Monday’s snowfall odds are 30%; the high for the day should be about 40.
And then it really will feel like winter: the nighttime low will be about 15 degrees as the second cold snap arrives.
Tuesday will bring sunny skies — and more cold, with a daytime high of 26.
With Joan Gralla
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