SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Saturday's powerful winter storm made for treacherous conditions — and Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman urged residents to stay home.
“Enough of the blizzard,” he said. “People should stay off the streets – they are very bad.”
New Southampton Highway Superintendent Charlie McArdle did “a great job,” Schneiderman said. “The employees in his department were working around the clock.”
But while the heavy snowfall rate may be tapering off, Schneiderman said strong winds, forecast to possibly reach 60 mph, are “complicating things — with moments of near-zero visibility.”
During a press briefing Saturday, Gov. Kathy Hotchul said the storm could prove “life-threatening” with about 18 inches of snow expected on Long Island. in the East End, more than 2 feet was expected to fall.
Also, Hochul said, wind chills are expected to drop between 0 degrees and minus -10 degrees Saturday night. told residents to cover all exposed skin. Also Saturday night, Hochul said strong winds could lead to an increase in power outages and
Hochul also told residents not to interrupt the plowing.
New York State has 250 Department of Transportation plows on the road. Hochul said residents should stay home, but for those who needed to go out, the speed limit on the Long Island Expressway was lowered to 45 miles per hour Saturday.
The Long Island Rail Road will remain closed until sometime Sunday, he said. He also said that while the snow may stop, there will be freezing conditions for days and New Yorkers should be careful. State officials also warned residents not to use unattended space heaters or gas stoves to heat homes.
