Snowfall Predictions Bumped Up for Long Island

Snow and high winds pummeled eastern Long Island early Thursday morning as a powerful blizzard blanketed the Northeast.

As of 6 a.m. Thursday, the National Weather Service increased its predicted snowfall for most of Long Island and southern Connecticut to between 8 and 12 inches, with greater amounts in some locations. Wind gusts up to 55 miles per hour were expected as well, making travel "difficult to impossible," the Weather Service said.

Minor to moderate coastal flooding was expected on the morning high tide. Additionally, the Weather Service cautioned that there could be damage along the shore of Peconic and Great South Bays from ice-laden waves. High tide at Lake Montauk is at 10:23 a.m. on Thursday and at the Three Mile Harbor entrance at 11:26 a.m.

All schools and government offices were closed. East Hampton Village Trustees and East Hampton Town Board meetings that had been scheduled for Thursday were canceled.

A wind-chill warning for the tristate area was in effect. The Long Island Rail Road said on Twitter that trains were delayed system-wide about 20 minutes, with several cancellations.

The storm is forecast to pull out of the region overnight, with a blast of very cold air following on Friday and Saturday.