Wintry winds blow through Wantagh-Seaford

Wantagh and Seaford residents are still digging out after a winter storm barreled through the area Thursday night, with snow continuing to fall Friday morning.

Wantagh received 4.1 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service, while 5.3 inches fell in Seaford.

Residents are now battling blistering low temperatures, which officials said are causing icing on local roadways. The wind has also proven problematic for Town of Hempstead cleanup crews, which have been forced to replow the same streets and are now dealing with snow turning into ice.

According to the National Weather Service, winds in the Wantagh-Seaford area were diminishing Friday afternoon. However, they will still generally range from 15 to 20 miles per hour, with gusts of 20 to 30 mph. Officials said that the wind, combined with air temperatures in the teens, will yield wind chill values in the single digits to as low as -10 degrees.

Wind chills below the zero-degree mark can lead to frostbite or hypothermia for anyone exposed to the cold. The Town of Hempstead opened a warming center at the Wantagh Senior Center, at 1150 Seamans Neck Road, for residents seeking refuge from the cold through Saturday.