This NOAA satellite image taken Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012 at 1:45 a.m. EST shows strong low pressure moving into New England with rain, sleet, snow, and gusty winds across a large part of the Northeast. (AP Photo/Weather Underground)
While a nor’easter makes it’s way through Long Island, forecasters are monitoring a new storm that could blanket the region in snow this weekend.
Wind gusts of 60 mph were recorded in Eaton’s Neck during the peak of Wednesday night’s storm, and gusts of 40 mph were recorded at Farmingdale Republic Airport.
Although previously issued high wind warning expired at 6 a.m., David Stark, a meteorologist with the NWS, said that heavy winds would linger.
“We’ll see winds again gusting 30 to 35 mph in the afternoon,” Stark said.
Thousands of Long Island Power Authority customers were blacked out as a result of downed trees and power lines. The Long Island Rail Road also reported some weather-related delays during the Thursday morning commute.
A coastal flood advisory is in effect for the northern Nassau and northwestern Suffolk until 1 p.m. Thursday. Forecasters said that low-lying coastal areas along the Long Island Sound could experience flooding of more vulnerable shore roads and basements during high tide, but that the road closures would be minimal.
City of Long Beach officials said that sand berms built on the oceanfront to protect the barrier island after Superstorm Sandy prevented more serious flooding in the still-recovering seaside community.
Long Islanders will get a brief respite from severe weather on Friday, which is expected to be sunny with a high near 38 degrees.
But the nice weather will not last long. A hazardous weather outlook is in effect for the area over the weekend for another coastal storm. According to meteorologists, there’s a possibility for an average of six inches or more of snowfall to accumulate on Saturday.
