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Long Island Under Blizzard Warning, 12 Inches of Snow Forecast

Long Island Snow

A blizzard is forecast to dump about a foot of snow on Long Island on Thursday in what is shaping up to be the first major snow storm of the New Year.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a blizzard warning for Nassau and Suffolk counties for Thursday. Blizzard-like conditions and 50-mph winds are possible, forecasters said.

“Travel will be very dangerous to impossible, including during the morning and evening commutes on Thursday,” meteorologists in NWS Upton office said in a statement. “Damage to trees and power lines is possible. Unsecured Christmas decorations may be blown away or damaged. Total snow accumulations of 8 to 12 inches with locally higher amounts are expected.”

The snow warning comes as the region has been dealing with abnormally low temperatures for this time of year. Snow accumulations will vary depending on which direction the storm takes.

“Winds gusting as high as 55 mph will cause whiteout conditions in blowing snow,” NWS said. “Significant drifting of the snow is likely with drifts of 18 to 24 inches possible especially in exposed areas.”

Eastern Long Island appears likely to see higher snowfall accumulations, with lower amounts in Nassau.

The storm comes as temperatures are forecast to remain in the 20s this week and drop into the teens and single digits overnight.