Winter storm could dump up to 10 inches of snow
As another winter storm bears down on the East End, the National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for eastern Suffolk County, saying the storm could bring as much as 10 inches to the area over the next two days.
The storm, which is building off the Carolinas, isn’t expected to move over the Northeast like most winter storms, but the sheer size of the nor’easter means the North Fork and Shelter Island will see some of its effects, said David Stark, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service Station in Upton.
A rain/snow mix will begin Wednesday afternoon, with the precipitation changing to snow as the sun goes down, Mr. Stark said. Snow will generally be light, though there could be “occasional moments of moderate snowfall” through Thursday morning, Mr. Stark said. The storm will dump between 3 to 5 inches on the area overnight, Mr. Stark said.
Temperatures will warm up on Thursday afternoon, possibly leading to a wintery mix, but snow will move back into the area overnight into Friday, adding another couple of inches to the totals by Friday morning, he added.
Depending on the intensity of the storm, the North Fork and Shelter Island could see as much as 10 inches over the next 48 hours, Mr. Stark said. However there’s “still a great deal of uncertainty in the forecast,” which could mean the area could see less snowfall than predicted, he added.
A coastal flood warning is in effect for the area, as the storm could bring minor to moderate coastal flooding in susceptible areas, Mr. Stark said.
High winds are also a concern, with gusts near 50 mph overnight on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
By Saturday, the weather will have improved, Mr. Stark said.
“It looks like it’s going to be a very sunny weekend,” he said. “We just have to get through the next couple of days.”
