Today’s forecast: Snow to rain, 3 to 5 inches possible

Update (7 a.m. Tuesday):

Suffolk County has dodged the worst of this late-winter storm, being at its southern end, with areas Upstate and in New England expecting to see over a foot of snow.

We’re looking at possibly 3 to 5 inches.

Today’s forecast from the National Weather Service:

Rain, snow, and sleet before 3pm, then rain between 3pm and 5pm, then snow and sleet likely after 5pm. The rain, snow, and sleet could be heavy at times. High near 39.

Wind chill values between 15 and 20. Windy, with a north wind 32 to 37 mph decreasing to 26 to 31 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 50 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Total daytime snow and sleet accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Update (6:15 p.m. Monday): 

Islip schools will be closed Tuesday. So will the other local school districts.

Update (6 p.m. Monday):

Cancellations from the Town of Islip.

• Traffic Court has been cancelled for Tuesday, March 14. All persons that were scheduled to appear tomorrow will receive a letter of correspondence in the mail with new appearance date.
• The Zoning Board of Appeals meeting scheduled for March 14 has been postponed until March 29.
• Residential waste collection will not take place on Tuesday, March 14. Residents not receiving trash pickup on Tuesday will have service resumed on their next scheduled collection day of Friday, March 17.
• The Islip Town Clerk’s Office will not operate during its regularly scheduled evening hours on March 14.
• The Islip Arts Council has cancelled its classes for March 14.
• Recreation Centers and Senior Centers will be closed, including evening activities at those locations.

Update (5:45 p.m. Monday):

Governor Andrew Cuomo has issued a State of Emergency for all of New York’s 62 counties, with significant snowfall expected across much of the state.

All non-essential state government employees are to stay home on Tuesday, with the bulk of the snowfall expected between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., according to the governor’s office.

“With heavy snow and blizzard-like conditions expected from upstate to downstate, we are taking every precaution to keep New Yorkers safe,” Cuomo said in a statement Monday evening. “I urge residents to stay informed, avoid unnecessary travel, and where possible, leave work early as heavy snowfall is expected to begin tonight.”

Update (4 p.m. Monday)

Bay Shore and East Islip public schools will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday.

Update (3:30 p.m. Monday):

At 5 p.m. Monday, the Suffolk County website at www.suffolkcountyny.gov will turn into an emergency updates page for county residents.

The page will include items such as road closures, emergency directives, tide and weather reports and more.

People can also click here to sign up for Code Red emergency updates via text.

Update (noon, Monday):

The Town of Islip has announced that all garbage/recycling collections for Tuesday, March 14, have been cancelled and that residents should not place any cans at the curb.

Monday AM:

The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning for Long Island and NYC that will take effect late Monday and run through midnight Tuesday.

The powerful nor’easter approaching the area will bring “very heavy snow, ice, strong winds, and dangerous travel conditions from the Middle Atlantic to New England,” according to the Weather Service.

Snow accumulations for Long Island are expected to fall between 12 and 20 inches. The higher amounts will likely be closer to the city. (Map below.)

Temperatures will be in the upper 20s, with wind gusts reaching 55 mph.

A coastal flood warning has also been issued for 8 a.m. to 2 p..m. Tuesday, with minor to moderate coastal flooding expected along the bays and oceans beaches in southwestern Suffolk and Nassau County.

Check back for local updates from GreaterBayShore.

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