Long Beach deals with first winter storm of 2017

The city of Long Beach advised residents to stay off the roads as Department of Public Works crews plowed and sanded streets on Saturday, as the South Shore dealt with the first significant snowstorm of the New Year.

“We continue to encourage residents to stay off the roads if possible,” Gordon Tepper, the city’s director of communications, said on Saturday evening. “Our DPW crews have done a tremendous job working all day to clear the roads, and they will be continuing into the night due to the intense snowfall and extremely low temperatures.”

Snow started falling across the South Shore two hours earlier than expected on Saturday, with the first flakes hitting the ground around 9 a.m.

By 5 p.m., more than half a foot of snow had fallen in many parts of the South Shore, and the storm was not expected to let up until 10 or 11 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

The storm made for messy streets, and officials were urging people to stay at home if possible to allow snow plows and sanders to clear streets. A number of accidents, near-misses and slip and falls were spotted on roads in Long Beach and across the region.

“Residents are making the best of it, but it’s snow, icy and slippery,” said Sam Pinto, president of the Eastholme Civic Association. “It was more snow than we expected.”

Early in the day, the weather service issued a Winter Storm Warning for Nassau and Suffolk counties, effective from the morning of Jan. 7 into the early morning of Jan. 8.

High schools canceled afternoon games, and a number of libraries reported early closings.

Long Islanders can expect up to eight inches of snow, and perhaps as much as 11 inches in eastern Suffolk County, according to the weather service. As of Saturday morning, temperatures hovered in the mid-20s, but were expected to drop into the teens overnight between Saturday and Sunday.

Motorists were cautioned to expect snowy and icy driving conditions. Visibility was predicted to be less than a quarter mile at times during the late morning and into the afternoon on Saturday. Winds were expected to blow at 10 to 20 miles per hour, with gusts up to 30 miles per hour.

In Long Beach, crews began plowing when three inches of snow had accumulated. For safety reasons, city crews clear the snow emergency routes first so that fire trucks, ambulances, buses and other essential vehicles can pass safely, according to the city.

The snow and wind conditions didn’t bring the barrier island to a complete standstill, however, and some restaurants and businesses made the most out of the storm.

At Mo’Nelisa, a pizzeria and restaurant in Point Lookout, owner Mo Cassara said that despite the snow and windy conditions, the eatery was open for business and making deliveries.

“A little snow won’t stop Mo’Nelisa,” he said.

And while Earth Arts in Long Beach closed at 4 p.m., the owners launched a competition encouraging customers and residents to make something creative in the snow. The photos would be shared on Earth Arts’ Facebook page, and the post with the most likes win a $25 gift card.

Here’s the weather service’s 24-hour forecast:

Today: Snow, mainly after 9 a.m. Could be heavy at times. High near 26 degrees Fahrenheit, with wind chill values between 10 and 15. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. Daytime accumulations between five and nine inches of snow possible.

Tonight: Snow likely, mainly before midnight. Gradual clearing through the morning, with a low around 18 and wind chill values between 5 and 10. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Sunday: Isolated snow showers after 10 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 25.