A significant winter storm brought hazardous conditions to Long Island on Sunday, blanketing parts of the region with over a foot of snow and initiating freezing rain.

These treacherous conditions prompted Governor Kathy Hochul, along with Nassau and Suffolk county leaders, to urge residents to stay off the roads on Monday, giving crews time to safely clear them.

While snow and sleet were forecast to taper off by noon Monday, temperatures are expected to remain below freezing for the rest of the week, with wind chills making it feel closer to 15 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit despite sunshine.

Local snowfall totals included just over 12 inches in Glen Cove and North Merrick, and 13.5 inches in Setauket-East Setauket. Highs this week will range from the mid-20s to low 30s, with lows potentially dipping to minus 5 degrees.

County Officials Coordinate Storm Response

Officials at the Nassau County Emergency Operations Center in Bethpage collaborated on storm response, with Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman warning that dangerous conditions would persist for three to four days.

Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine echoed these concerns, noting crews would need until at least midday Monday to make roads safe.

National Weather Service meteorologist John Cristantello highlighted that the bitter cold prevented the heavy, wet snow that typically damages trees and power lines, resulting in minimal outages—fewer than two dozen reported by PSEG Long Island.

Snow plows and salt spreaders were deployed across Nassau, Suffolk, and New York City early Sunday, continuing into the evening to keep roads as safe as possible.

Community Response and Ice Rescue Incident

Most Long Islanders stayed home during the storm, though some local businesses remained open to serve essential workers and residents venturing out.

Dilan DeJesus of Delicias Café in West Hempstead and Anthony Rombaldi of Junior’s Pizza in Halesite emphasized their commitment to the community during severe weather. Police reported no major weather-related crashes or road closures on Sunday evening.

However, the storm caused a serious incident in Nesconset, where a father and his 12-year-old son fell through Gibbs Pond.

Smithtown Park Ranger Leyland Crocilla, assisted by a good Samaritan, pulled the boy from the water, while the Nesconset Fire Department rescued the father. Both were transported to Stony Brook University Hospital in stable condition.

Sgt. Brendan Dennihy urged the public to exercise extreme caution around ice during ongoing freezing conditions.