Wintry mix headed for Long Island on Sunday

A dusting of snow is expected on Long Island Sunday evening before turning into sleet and then rain by Monday morning.

The wintry mix could make Sunday evening travel a hassle mostly west of Long Island along the I-95 corridor since the event will be concentrated in the upstate and New England areas. Coastal areas will not be as impacted, forecasters said.

"We aren't looking at anything too significant. Timing-wise, light snow will begin in the late afternoon, about 3 to 4 p.m.," said David Stark, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Upton.

The weather service, as of Saturday morning, was predicting no more than a half-inch of snow to fall, mostly accumulating on grassy areas. By Sunday evening, the snow will turn to sleet and then just rain by Monday morning. It will continue to rain through Monday with temperatures in the mid 40s, Stark said.

The weather system approaching from the southeast is responsible for the conditions; however, warmer air from the ocean will prevent temperatures low enough for continued snowfall.

It will not be the first snow accumulation of the season on Long Island. Two-tenths of an inch was recorded on Nov. 12 and one-tenth of an inch was recorded on Nov. 23, Stark said.

Saturday's high temperatures will remain in the low 40s, which is about five degrees colder than average for this time of year, Stark said. Sunday's low will be in the low 30s, but by sunrise on Monday, temperatures will again hit the 40s.

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That doesn't mean a big chill isn't on the way. Temperatures are expected to plummet again on Tuesday and Wednesday. The pine barrens area in Suffolk County will drop to the teens at night.

"Looks like the trend will be colder once we head into next week. That's when we'll struggle to get above the freezing mark," Stark said.