Slushy, slick roads could lead to treacherous conditions as black ice forms overnight, according to the National Weather Service.
According to Tim Morrin, meteorologist with the NWS office at Upton, both the North Fork and Riverhead are seeing a final band of mixed precipitation as rain mixes with snow and temperatures hover around 34 degrees. An additional inch of snow could accumulate, with snow “briefly moderate in intensity at times,” according to the NWS. Visibility could be one quarter to one half mile at times.
The band is expected to clear out of the area by 8 p.m., with a coating of snow at the tail end of the weekend’s weather event.
The concern, Morrin said, is centered on dropping temperatures that are expected to freeze moisture on roadways and walkways.
“We anticipate black ice conditions overnight,” he said. “Our concern is that motorists will think the roads are fine, and just look wet, but as temperatures drop below 32 degrees, especially on untreated roads, there will be some slipping and sliding.”
According to the NWS, black ice will form overnight on untreated surfaces as temperatures fall. Melted snow from the morning’s storm will refreeze, creating hazardous conditions on surfaces that have been cleared of snow, but untreated for ice.. Black ice conditions will begin toward midnight and continue into Sunday morning, according to the NWS.
If possible, Morrin said motorists should try to stay off the roads.
With a winter weather advisory extended until 7 p.m, skies are expected to remain partly cloudy until after midnight, with lows in the upper 20s. Northwest winds of 10 to 15 miles per hour with gusts up to 25 miles per hour are forecast.
Sunday, Morrin said, will be bright and sunny, with a high of 37 degrees.
SoutholdLOCAL photo by Peter Blasl.
