It’s not a question of if. It’s when.
And that when creeps ever closer, with every passing hour.
Soon, Long Island will be covered in snow. The great blizzard to end the decade.
At least, that’s what the weather services are saying.
Starting at noon today, a blizzard warning is in effect, as issued by the National Weather Service—which will remain in effect till 11 a.m. tomorrow.
According to The Weather Channel, snow showers early will become steadier snow for the afternoon. At noon, there will be a 60 percent chance of snow; by 3 p.m., that will have moved to 100 percent.
Today’s anticipated accumulation is 2 to 5 inches for Long Island.
Nassau County is expected to see perhaps an inch more snowfall than Suffolk.
Tonight, snow will become heavy, resulting in accumulations of 6 to 10 inches. Expect difficult driving conditions and gusting winds.
Tomorrow, there is a 60 percent chance of snow, with a possibility of an additional 1 to 2 inches.
The National Weather Service’s full warning is posted below.
Issued by The National Weather Service
New York City, NY
5:59 am EST, Sat., Dec. 19, 2009
A BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 11 AM EST SUNDAY.
INTENSE LOW PRESSURE TRACKING UP THE COAST TODAY INTO TONIGHT WILL RESULT IN A PERIOD OF HEAVY SNOW AND HIGH WINDS ACROSS LONG ISLAND. SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 10 TO 15 INCHES WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED. WIND GUSTS OF UP TO 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE… ESPECIALLY LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT. THESE STRONG WINDS ALONG WITH THE HEAVY SNOW WILL REDUCE VISIBILITIES TO UNDER A QUARTER MILE AT TIMES… AND CAUSE SIGNIFICANT BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF SNOW.
SIGNIFICANT VARIATION IN SNOWFALL AMOUNTS IS POSSIBLE ACROSS THE WARNING AREA BASED ON WHERE BANDING OF SNOWFALL DEVELOPS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT CONDITIONS… MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL… HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET STRANDED… STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.
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More Information
… STRONG WINTER STORM TO IMPACT THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON INTO SUNDAY MORNING…
.LOW PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE TO INTENSIFY AS IT TRACKS FROM OFF THE DELMARVA COAST THIS AFTERNOON… SOUTHEAST OF LONG ISLAND TONIGHT… AND SOUTHEAST OF CAPE COD BY SUNDAY MORNING. THE INTENSE LOW WILL PRODUCE A SWATH OF HEAVY SNOWFALL… AS WELL AS A CORRIDOR OF HIGH WINDS.
