A powerful nor’easter swept across Baldwin and the rest of Long Island on Sunday night and Monday, dumping more than a foot of snow accompanied by strong winds that prompted school closures and a countywide travel ban, and leaving hazardous driving conditions in its wake.
The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning from 1 p.m. Sunday through 6 p.m. Monday, warning of heavy snowfall, strong wind gusts and periods of near-whiteout conditions. Snow began falling Sunday afternoon and intensified into the evening, with the heaviest bands overnight into early Monday morning. By the time the storm tapered off, totals across Nassau County ranged from roughly 12 to 18 inches, with gusty winds making travel especially dangerous at the height of the storm.
Nassau County officials imposed a temporary travel ban, urging residents to remain off the roads to allow plows and emergency crews to operate safely. Only essential and emergency vehicles were permitted to travel while crews worked to clear main roadways.
Plows worked through the storm to clear major roadways before moving into residential streets. Despite those efforts, many neighborhood roads remained snow-covered well into Monday afternoon as crews worked to keep up with the steady accumulation.
As snowfall intensified Sunday night, most Baldwin residents stayed home, preparing for what forecasters described as one of the region’s most significant winter storms in years.
Miguel Melendez told the Herald on Facebook that he spent Sunday evening preparing soups and stews so his family could focus on shoveling once the snow stopped falling.
Others ventured out before conditions worsened. John Cools stopped at the SuperFresh, on Grand Avenue, ahead of the storm. “The store was well stocked, and they had plenty of registers open,” Cools posted on Facebook. “Everyone was kind and joking about the storm.”
With Baldwin schools closed, students enjoyed the snowfall during their extended winter recess. Dominic and Sophia Muro spent Monday building snowmen and engaging in snowball fights outside their home on Milburn Street.
By midday Monday, some main roadways had improved. Cools described the Long Island Expressway as “pretty clear,” with little traffic at around noon.
Still, many residential streets remained buried under heavy, wet snow that proved difficult to clear. Residents reported waiting for plows while shoveling driveways and walkways on their own, with the weight of the snow adding to the challenge.
“The snow is heavy,” Baldwin resident Michael Strahl wrote on Facebook. “It is pretty hard on the snowblowers as well.”
William Bennett posted around noon on Monday that he had not yet seen a plow on his dead-end block of Lincoln Street, prompting mixed responses from other residents — some reporting similar delays, while others said their streets had already been cleared multiple times.
“The last time it snowed, they did such a poor job of removing the snow from the streets,” Bennett said. “We were all frustrated. I know there is a lot of snow to be removed, but I feel they can prepare a little better.”
No widespread power outages were reported in Baldwin.
The weight of the snowfall created challenges for emergency responders as well. Jo-Ann Autorino said a Baldwin Fire Department truck got stuck in the snow outside her home on Monday. Even after two plows arrived to help, the truck remained stuck for a while.
As cleanup efforts continued Monday afternoon, more residents began venturing outside to shovel, clear vehicles and check on neighbors. The sound of snowblowers filled the air as families worked to dig out from the storm.
Town crews continued plowing operations into the evening, working to clear secondary roads and widen lanes.
Officials urged residents to remain cautious in the days following the storm, noting that melting snow and overnight refreezing could create icy patches on roads and sidewalks. With temperatures expected to fluctuate, residents were advised to take care when traveling and allow additional time for commutes as conditions gradually returned to normal.
