First snowday in over two years

Lynbrook and East Rockaway schools closed on Tuesday, as the first major winter storm in over two years impacted the area.

Last minute shifts in the forecast prompted the National Weather Service to issue a Winter Storm Warning, as the biggest snow storm in over two years is set to hit the area.

The warning is in effect from 4 a.m. Tuesday to 6 p.m. later that day. Snowfall totals of 5 to 10 inches is forecasted with locally higher amounts possible. Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour is forecasted to occur around 8 a.m.

The hazardous conditions are forecasted to impact the Tuesday morning commute. Snowfall amounts are dependent on how quickly the rain transitions to snow, which is forecated to occur around daybreak. Winds may gust up to 40 mph.

For southern Nassau County, a Coastal Flood Warning is in effect from 8 a.m. Tuesday to 3 p.m. Tuesday. Two to two and a half feet of flooding is possible in vulnerable areas near the shoreline.

“People have been accustomed to a fairly mild winter, so take all the necessary precautions," Kathy Hochul, governor of New York, said about this storm. "Stay tuned to your news. If you can work remotely, that's great. Make sure that our roads are clear for the plows as always.”

Hochul told Long Islanders to expect heavy, wet snow which will impact tomorrow's commute.

“Even though we’re coming out of a few days of record high temperatures, this storm is a stark reminder that winter is still alive and well,” Hochul said in a news release. “This storm will bring plenty of hazards with it from heavy snow piling up fast to wind, which will bring low visibility and some power outages. Please heed warnings from your local media outlets, as my team will continue to monitor the storm until it’s long gone.”

To report an electrical outage, call PSEG Long Island at (800) 490-0075.