Winter Storm Watch Issued For Parts of LI; Flash Freeze Possible

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for parts of Long Island as this weekend promises to bring a wintry mess of snow, sleet and freezing rain.

The storm watch will be in effect from noon Saturday until 6 p.m. Sunday for Nassau County and northwestern Suffolk County. Total snow and sleet accumulations of 3 to 6 inches and ice accumulations of up to one tenth of an inch possible in those areas.

The rest of the island is under a hazardous weather outlook and will likely see 1-3 inches of snow and sleet. The bulk of the snow is expected to fall Saturday night.

Travel could be very difficult at any point during the storm. Temperatures will rapidly fall Sunday afternoon and evening, creating the potential for a flash freeze. If this occurs, it will create a sheet of ice out of any untreated surfaces, the NWS says.

Before the get to the big storm, the island will likely see some light snow early Friday. Less than an inch is expected to accumulate, but motorists should be prepared for the possibility of slippery roads and use caution while driving.

Photo by Laura Ann