WEATHER UPDATE

Hempstead Town battling snowstorm

Posted

Spring isn’t here just yet, as Town of Hempstead crews are battling yet another snowstorm.

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for March 5, which will remain in effect until 7 p.m. today. Heavy snow is expected along with a wintry mix, so Supervisor Kate Murray and Hempstead Town officials have canceled several programs and services while snow removal teams work to clear roadways.

Officials said storm operations began at 7 a.m., when town workers and 200 pieces of equipment were deployed across the area. All major roads had been salted in advance of the storm, and snow removal will begin in each portion of America’s largest township as soon as “plowable amounts” have fallen on local streets; town representatives explained that some communities’ streets were already plowed as of 11 a.m., while others were still on standby.

Since workers will be removing snow from local streets throughout the day, officials are asking residents to move their cars from these roadways so the plows can move from curb to curb. When shoveling, they said residents should place snow to the right side of their driveways and property to decrease chances that plows will put it right back in the spot that it came from.

Hazardous travel conditions are anticipated, as visibility could be only a quarter mile during the morning into early afternoon and roadways are slippery. Road icing may also occur as temperatures drop. Because of these conditions, several town programs and services have also been canceled.

All ANCHOR programs are canceled, as are all Parks Department programs. Sanitation and recycling were canceled Thursday morning, and officials said services will resumes on residents' next scheduled collection day. Transportation services to and from Hempstead Town senior centers were also suspended, and all special activities at the various centers are canceled.