New York, NY – Travel across New York City and Long Island could become impossible within hours Sunday evening as heavy snow ramps up to 2 inches per hour by 7 p.m., triggering near-blizzard conditions through the Monday morning commute.
According to the National Weather Service in New York, a Winter Storm Watch is in effect from Sunday evening through Monday afternoon, with the heaviest snow expected between 7 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m. Monday. Forecasters project 10 to 14 inches across Suffolk County and much of Long Island, with up to a foot in New York City. Snowfall rates may exceed 2 inches per hour overnight. Northeast winds will increase to 30 to 35 mph, with gusts up to 55 mph, producing whiteout conditions.
In New York City, visibility could drop below a quarter mile on bridges and elevated roadways including the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, FDR Drive and Long Island Expressway. JFK and LaGuardia may face delays as heavy, wet snow weighs on equipment and aircraft. On Long Island, the Long Island Rail Road could see service disruptions, and coastal communities from Islip to Montauk face additional concerns with gusty winds.
Heavy, wet snow may cling to trees and power lines, increasing the risk of scattered outages. Residents should charge devices, avoid non-essential travel after 7 p.m. Sunday and prepare for hazardous conditions into mid-morning Monday. Additional watches or warnings are likely as the storm track becomes clearer.
