LI Snow Update: Winter Storm Warning In Effect — New, Potential Snow Totals Released

LONG ISLAND, NY — With hours to go before a major storm pummels Long Island, the National Weather Service has declared a winter storm warning — and released new, slightly lower, snow totals for the area.

According to the NWS, heavy snow and sleet accumulation are expected, with snow accumulation of 8 to 12 inches, the lowest amounts in the southern areas.

The snow will change to sleet Sunday afternoon into early evening, the NWS said. An earlier transition would decrease snow accumulations, but increase sleet accumulations, up to 2 inches, with the potential for a glaze of ice, the NWS said.

A glaze of ice accretion of up to 1/10th inch is likely Sunday night into Monday morning for Long Island, particularly the southern coast, the NWS said.

Snowfall rates of up to 2 inches per hour are expected late Sunday morning into early evening, the NWS said. Snow will be powdery and dry Sunday morning into the afternoon, becoming a heavy, wintry mix late Sunday into Sunday night, the NWS said.

Snow is slated to begin around sunrise Sunday, becoming heavy during the late morning into afternoon and early evening, the NWS said.

A transition to the wintry mix is expected to take place Sunday afternoon through Sunday evening, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., from south to north, the NWS said. The wintry mix is slated to lighten after 2 a.m., with lingering light snow Monday morning into afternoon, before ending, the NWS said.

Winds of 15 to 25 miles per hour, with gusts of up to 35 miles per hour, are possible Sunday through Monday, the NWS said.

Temperatures are expected to remain in the teens into Sun afteroon, rising into the mid-to-upper 20s Sunday night and Monday, the NWS said.

"The challenge is going to be the sleet and freezing rain," said Joe Pollina, meteorologist with the NWS office in Upton. "We're going to see almost a foot of snow and then, sleet and possibly freezing rain on top of that, adding another layer of ice. It's going to be slicker than just the snow."

Residents should not drive if possible on Sunday. "Stay home until all the snow and other precipitation has fallen, then you can start the dig-out. But it's still going to be very cold so people need to bundle up when they go out and come inside often."

According to the NWS, the snow will cause a "major disruption to transportation and daily life likely Sunday into Sunday night from heavy snowfall, high snowfall rates, visibilities down to a quarter mile or less. Whiteout conditions are possible at times, with patchy blowing and drifting snow."

Residents, the NWS said, should expect "lingering significant travel impacts likely for the Monday morning commute, possibly into the Monday afternoon/evening commute."