Blizzard Conditions Forecast After Nightfall Monday
A strong winter storm that could bring as much as 20 inches of snow and high winds to eastern Long Island is expected to arrive around mid-day on Monday.
The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard watch for much of the Northeast for a low-pressure system that is moving slowly eastward. It said that the first bands of snow associated with the "potentially historic winter storm” would begin to be felt along the East Coast on Monday afternoon.
The weather service said that travel during the storm would be extremely dangerous due to heavy snowfall and strong winds with whiteout conditions likely. Smaller roads may become impassable, and strong winds may down power lines and tree limbs.
East Hampton Town officials posted an alert Sunday warning residents to monitor National Weather Service advisories, network news channels, L.T.V. channels 20 and 22, and the town website for further information. “Regardless of the track of this storm it appears that a significant snowfall is likely, and residents should take all necessary precautions prior to Monday afternoon,” they said.
With predicted water levels to be higher than usual during an incoming tide late Monday into Tuesday, coastal flooding from the blizzard appeared likely. This timing coincided with the National Weather Service's expectation that the highest winds would begin to be felt after midnight on Monday, with gusts up to 57 miles per hour from the northeast over the open waters.
The East Hampton Town and Village were in the planning stages for the storm Sunday morning with a meeting of emergency responders and key departments planned for village police headquarters in the afternoon.
High winds and tapering snow flurries are expected to end late Tuesday. Clear and cold conditions are forecast for Wednesday.
National Weather Service forecast.