With the possibility of at least 8 to 12 inches of snow falling across Long Island, the National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning with the storm expected to begin at 3 a.m. on Jan. 25.
Due to dangerous road conditions from today's snowfall, which is to continue well into the evening with an icy mix, service on all NICE Bus routes will be suspended as of 3 p.m. Sunday.
NICE will continue to assess road conditions overnight and into Monday morning to decide when it is safe to resume service. Even when service is resumed, passengers should expect delays and detours especially on the North Shore for Monday's morning commute.
Riders can use the NICE Go Mobile app (https://www.nicebus.com/Tools/GoMobile-App) to check the status of their specific bus in real-time. It is available free at the Apple and Google app stores
There are delays along the West Hempstead Branch due to weather-related switch trouble near Valley Stream.
All local libraries were closed on Sunday and the Malverne and Lakeview branches have announced they will remain closed on Monday as well.
Malverne Union Free School District and West Hempstead Union Free School District shared on their Facebook pages that all schools will be closed on Jan. 26. This closure includes all regular school instruction, before-school programs, after-school activities and programs, and evening events. To monitor updates, please visit the school Facebook pages.
Both county executives, Bruce Blakeman in Nassau and Ed Romaine in Suffolk have declared a state of emergency for their respective municipalities.
"We are preparing for the worst," Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said on Friday, noting that the county warming center at 1200 Old Country Road in Westbury will be stocked with blankets, ready meals and other necessities.
The center will be open "until we determine the cold is gone," he added. It is open today and is monitored 24/7.
Gov. Kathy Hocul declared a state of emergency on Friday.
The snow is forecasted to be heavy from late Saturday night through Monday afternoon. Precipitation could mix with sleet and freezing rain for a time Sunday night especially closer to the coast.
"Our trucks are fueled, our plows are on," Hempstead Town Supervisor John Ferretti said, adding that vehicles should be removed from residential side streets — if possible — for plows to "do their job."
Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous. Visibilities may drop below a quarter mile due to heavy snow. Temperatures are expected to remain in the lows with very cold wind chills around -5 degrees.
"Salting becomess less effective when we hit 20 degrees," said Joe Sparacio, commissioner of the county's Office of Emergency Management.
The Long Island Rail Road will run on a modified Sunday schedule, officials said. There will be half-hourly service on the Babylon Branch. There will be no service between Ronkonkoma and Greenport, hourly service on the Port Washington Branch and between New York City and Huntington on the Port Jefferson Branch.
Trains from Grand Centrel to Massapequa are not running.
On Monday, the LIRR will operate a regular Sunday schedule.
Crews will be out across the service territory working to keep trains moving with equipment on hand to be able to respond quickly as conditions warrant. Workers will also proactively de-ice station walkways and platforms.
De-icing trains will be running to keep third rails clear of snow and ice, while crews are strategically positioned throughout the system helping to keep switches clear and operable. In addition, switch heaters will be activated to prevent track switches from freezing using natural gas burners and electrical heating elements.
PSEG Long Island officials said the power utility is prepared to respond safely to potential power outages.
While powdery snow associated with extreme cold typically does not damage electrical equipment, the utility said hazardous driving conditions, icy roads and reduced visibility could lead to vehicle collisions with utility poles.
Crews and resources will be in place to respond as quickly and safely as possible. Michael Sullivan, vice president of electric operations, said the company continues to monitor the storm and has completed system and logistics checks to support timely restoration efforts.
The utility urged customers to prepare in advance, including knowing how to report outages and follow winter safety guidance. PSEG advises people to stay away from downed wires, which should always be considered live, avoid standing water or slush, and never use generators or gasoline-powered equipment indoors or near windows or vents.
Outages can be reported through the PSEG Long Island mobile app, by texting OUT to 773454, online at psegliny.com/outages, or by calling the 24-hour electric service number at 800-490-0075.
Updates are also available on social media and via the MyPower outage map at mypowermap.psegliny.com.
