The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for our region for heavy snowfall and high winds. Snowfall amounts of 11 to 15 inches are possible with winds gusting as high as 55 mph.
[UPDATE: The Town of Shelter Island has declared a snow emergency from 7 PM Friday through 7 PM Saturday; keep off the roads to allow Highway Department crews to plow and emergency and utility personnel to respond as required. Read the declaration here.]
The warning, issued around 3 AM Friday, is in effect from 7 PM Friday through 7 PM Saturday. Confidence in the forecast is increasing, the NWS says. But if the storm develops along a western track, snowfall amounts on the East End could reach 24 inches.
Day by day forecast
Snowfall is expected to begin Friday after 10 PM. The low temperature is forecast around 20 degrees with wind chill values between 10 and 15 degrees. A blustery north wind of about 9 to 14 mph will increase overnight to 20 to 25 mph.
New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches is possible overnight.
Snow could be heavy at times on Saturday. The temperature will fall to around 21 degrees by 5 PM with wind chill values between zero and 10 degrees. Wind will be from the north 32 to 38 mph with gusts as high as 55 mph.
New snow accumulation of 8 to 12 inches is possible during the day.
Saturday night there is a 40 percent chance of snow before midnight. The forecast calls for partly cloudy skies with a low temperature around 13 degrees. Wind chill values will be between minus 5 degrees and zero. Northwest wind of 21 to 31 mph is expected with gusts as high as 41 mph.
On Sunday, the NWS predicts clearing skies with a high temperature near 27 and blustery 14 to 21 mph winds.
Minor to moderate coastal flooding impacts are expected at high tides on Saturday and Sunday, with waters in the Long Island Sound and bays 1 to 2 feet above normal.
Under gale conditions, wave ocean wave heights of 10 to 15 feet are possible, and 4 to 6 feet in the Long Island Sound and bay waters on the East End.
Contact PSEG to report outages
Shelter Island Police Chief James J. Read said PSEG will station utility crews on the Island to respond to power outages and other electric utility issues. Please report power outages directly to PSEG at 1-800-490-0075. Report downed wires to the police department’s non-emergency number, 631-749-0600.
Other ways to contact PSEG:
- Get the PSEG mobile app to report an outage, get updates on the MyPower Map online from a computer (no log-in is required)
- Text REGISTER to PSEGLI (773454) to manage outages by text. Text OUT to report and outage and PSEG will text back with updates
- Follow PSEGLI on Facebook or Twitter for storm updates and report outages weekdays 7 AM to 11 PM; weekends 9 AM to 6 PM
- For storm tips, go to the PSEG outages page
