Snow on Sunday, then dangerously cold temps arrive on Long Island

Volunteers on Saturday gathered holiday wreaths at Long Island National Cemetery in Pinelawn to prepare them for proper disposal and recycling. Credit: Joseph Sperber
A band of snow heading to Long Island on Sunday will be followed by dangerously frigid temperatures that may cause icy conditions, forecasters said.
Parts of northern Nassau County may receive around 3 to 6 inches of snow beginning Sunday afternoon, forecast to start as a wintry mix. The heaviest of that snow is likely to happen in the late afternoon and into the early evening as temperatures begin to drop, said Jay Engle, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Upton.
Long Island’s snowfall totals are expected to dip farther east. The agency forecasts around 2.6 inches for areas around Islip and less than an inch for Montauk.
"Drivers and people who will be out and about should try to get everything completed before 5 p.m. because between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. is when the worst of the storm is going to be," said Newsday meteorologist Rich Von Ohlen.
The storm’s current track has its greatest impacts hitting western Long Island, the weather service said.
New York City is forecast to receive around 4 inches, with that total rising closer to 5 inches in parts of New Jersey and Connecticut, according to the weather service.
New York City, under a winter weather alert from Sunday to Monday, will be deploying sanitation workers in 12-hour shifts, driving 2,500 plows and 700 salt spreaders over 19,000 lane-miles, according to the city's Sanitation Department. Estimates say that over 20 million pounds of salt could be spread.
"We’re going to be prepared with all of the equipment that is needed," Mayor Eric Adams said on Saturday.
New York State's Division of Emergency Management and Department of Transportation prepped for the storm, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Statewide there will be 1,643 large plow trucks, 351 large loaders, 159 medium-duty plows, 52 tow plows, 34 snowblowers and 20 graders on hand to clear the roads and sidewalks.
"The Nassau County Department of Public Works will have 76 trucks out to plow and salt as needed," Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said. "I urge everyone who does not have to go out in the storm to stay home, watch a good movie, or some football."
On Long Island, "if the storm track gets further east, we’ll probably get more" snow, Engle said on Saturday morning.
Then, a rush of arctic air is predicted for Monday, sending temperatures plummeting below freezing and triggering concerns about travel conditions, forecasters said.
"If there’s any standing water around from any wintry mix or slight snow, it’s going to freeze pretty hard in the predawn hours," Engle said. "It could be pretty slick as we get into Monday morning."
Von Ohlen said there would be a "hard freeze" Monday and urged residents to clear off as much snow as possible on Sunday to limit the number of icy spots.
"Everywhere is going to ice over," he said.
The weather service forecasts highs in the 20s on Monday, with the wind chill making it feel as cold as minus 15 degrees overnight into Tuesday. Highs for Tuesday may not rise above the teens, according to the forecast, and winds may make it feel like minus 10 degrees Tuesday night. During the day on Wednesday, the weather service said it is likely to feel like it is below 10 degrees.
"It’s going to feel pretty nasty out there," Engle said. "We’re going to be at least 15 degrees below normal, and when you factor in the wind, it’ll feel colder."
The cold temperatures could cause pipes to freeze and burst, and people may suffer hypothermia and frostbite with prolonged exposure to the conditions, the weather service warned.
"New Yorkers are no stranger to winter weather, but I encourage everyone to make sure you and your family are prepared for the snow and extreme cold, exercise caution if traveling and continue to monitor your local forecast,” Hochul said in a statement.
With Matthew Chayes and Janon Fisher
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