Politics & Government
Update: Blizzard Hits the North Fork and Snowplows Hit the Roads
Southold Town Highway Department Superintendent Peter Harris has the entire 25- man department out sanding, plowing and salting roads as the region's first blizzard hit the North Fork the day after Christmas.
Every truck was out on the road plowing snow at 3:15 p.m. on Sunday afternoon as Deputy Highway Superintendent Curt Davis estimated local snow accumulation at 3 inches as the first storm — officially termed a blizzard by the U.S. Weather Service — hit the North Fork the day after Christmas. Total accumulations may be more than 12 inches on the East End, according to weather reports.
"Stay home and stay off the roads," Davis advised.
The National Weather Service's blizzard warning for New York City and Long Island, as of 5:01 a.m., calls for 11-16 inches of snow, with higher amounts possible. The blizzard warning is in effect until Monday at 6 p.m.
Find out what's happening in North Forkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The worst of the storm is expected Sunday night into Monday, with high winds and gusts up to 60 mph.
According to Davis, all of the town's 24 trucks were out on the roads once the snow started falling early on Sunday. The entire 25-man crew was out working with every man on overtime since the storm hit late Sunday morning. With six days left before they close the books on the 2010 budget, Davis said Southold Town officials were not worried about the cost of the snow plowing operation and were concentrating on getting the job done. Winds were picking up by mid-afternoon as the temperature dropped and visibility diminished due to the driving snow, making road conditions extremely hazardous.
Find out what's happening in North Forkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Harris was out in the field surveying road conditions while Davis manned the department at headquarters.
was unavailable for comment but had been out in the storm surveying conditions according to Davis.
"I'm sure he has been in touch with Harris," he said.
Davis added that sanding trucks had been out covering all town roads once by mid-afternoon. The plow trucks were following closely behind to keep the fast-falling snow off the roads. Sanders were making their way along Route 48 by noon as the roads turned slippery and snow began to accumulate.
"We are going to work 24-7 to keep the roads clear," Davis said. The crew was taking short breaks every few hours before heading back out again.
"The public expects the roads to be cleared and that is what we are going to do," Davis said.
Update, 10 p.m. Sunday: The Long Island Rail Road has cancelled service to the East End Sunday night due to frozen switches near Jamaica station. Wind gusts have caused problems in warming up the switches, according to LIRR authorities.
Update, 6 p.m. Sunday: Gusts might reach 50 to 60 mph as the snowstorm continues on the North Fork, according to the National Weather Service. The weather service is also reporting that the North Fork is outside of the heavy snow circle where 2 feet of snow is expected. Instead, the local forecast is 6 to 12 inches of snowfall overnight.
The weather service is also reporting that local tides might rise 3 to 4 feet above the mean high tide mark, which might cause flooding on roadways surrounded by water such as the Orient-East Marion causeway.
As of 6 p.m. on Sunday, North Fork main roadways such as Route 48 are still covered with icy snow, and driving conditions are dangerous, according to the Southold Town Highway Department. All 24 of the town's trucks are currently on the roads plowing, sanding and salting.
Stay tuned to North Fork Patch for more updates and pictures of the snowstorm as it progresses, and feel free to email us your own pictures to erins@patch.com.
