Long Island Braces for Potential Blizzard Conditions and Coastal Flooding

Long Island residents are preparing for a significant winter storm expected to bring heavy snowfall, strong winds, and potential coastal flooding this weekend. A Winter Storm Watch has been issued for Nassau and Suffolk counties, with the possibility of blizzard conditions impacting travel and daily life.

Storm Details and Forecast

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Winter Storm Watch effective from Sunday morning through Monday afternoon. Forecasters predict snowfall accumulations of 10 to 13 inches across Long Island, with wind gusts potentially reaching up to 45 mph. A Coastal Flood Watch is too in effect for low-lying waterfront areas.

Meteorologists at the Upton-based NWS office have indicated that “blizzard conditions are possible across central and eastern Long Island.” The storm watch warns that travel could become “very difficult to impossible” due to areas of blowing snow significantly reducing visibility. Hazardous conditions are expected to impact both the Monday morning and evening commutes, and the combination of gusty winds and heavy, wet snow could lead to downed tree branches.

AccuWeather reports that snowfall accumulations may be higher on the East End, with the potential for up to 18 inches of snow.

Coastal Flood Threat

The Coastal Flood Watch highlights the risk of inundation up to 2 ½ feet above ground level in low-lying shoreline areas from Sunday evening through late Sunday night. The NWS warns this could result in numerous road closures and widespread flooding of low-lying properties, including parking lots, parks, lawns, and homes/businesses with basements near the waterfront.

Flooding is also expected to extend inland along tidal rivers and bays. The presence of ice cover in bays and harbors could exacerbate flooding and cause damage to shoreline structures facing northeast to east. Beach and dune erosion are also likely, particularly at high tide, with potential wash overs in vulnerable dune areas.

Preparedness and Safety

PSEG Long Island has cautioned that wind gusts up to 55 mph on the East End could be strong enough to topple trees and bring down power lines, potentially causing outages. Newsday reports that the utility has personnel ready to respond safely and quickly throughout the storm.

Recent Storm Context

This storm follows a previous significant snowfall event on January 25th, where over a foot of snow fell across the region. A subsequent deep freeze prevented much of that accumulation from melting, adding to the potential for combined impacts from the current storm.