LIVE UPDATES: LIRR announces limited services for Tuesday
The blizzard is bringing heavy snow and damaging winds to the area.
Unplowed roads in Suffolk County
10 PM: Jenna Rae Gaertner was in Holtsville where unplowed sidestreets were a cause for concern.
MTA Provides Service Updates for Tuesday Commute
8:32 PM: LIRR to Restore Service on Six Branches Starting at 4 a.m. for Tuesday Morning Rush Hour
According to the MTA:
The LIRR plans to operate limited service beginning 4:00 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, on the Ronkonkoma, Huntington, Babylon, Oyster Bay, Montauk, and Port Washington branches. Montauk service will be limited to trains between Speonk and points west. Oyster Bay service will operate westbound in the morning and add eastbound after the morning rush.
Westbound service will resume in the 4:00 a.m. hour, eastbound service will resume in the 5:00 a.m. hour. The Port Washington and Ronkonkoma branches will run on an hourly schedule, Babylon and Huntington branches will operate on a half-hourly schedule. Port Jefferson Branch trains will run every hour and a half. Oyster Bay Branch trains will run every two hours, with the first westbound train scheduled for 5:26 a.m. The first eastbound train will leave at 10:45 a.m. Service to Jamaica and Atlantic Terminal will run every 20 minutes.
Customers should check the TrainTime app before traveling or sign up for email/text alerts.
Crews are running patrol and de-icing trains to prevent ice buildup on the third rail, working on interlockings, and clearing fallen trees from tracks caused by high winds. The LIRR will work to restore service on the other branches throughout the day tomorrow and service will resume on a rolling basis as conditions allow.
The scheduled suspension prioritized passenger safety and allowed crews to focus on snow-clearing efforts from this extreme winter weather event, which impacted Long Island more than any other part of the MTA service area.
LIRR SERVICE UPDATE
7:44 PM: Limited service resumes Tuesday morning.
The LIRR plans to operate limited service beginning 4 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, on the Babylon, Montauk, Oyster Bay, Port Jefferson, Port Washington, and Ronkonkoma branches.
Hourly service on the Port Washington and Ronkonkoma Branches
Reduced Babylon Branch weekend service
Weekend service on the Montauk Branch will be limited to trains between Speonk and points west
Oyster Bay service will operate westbound in the morning rush and in both directions after the morning rush
Weekend service on the Port Jefferson Branch
Weekend service to/from Brooklyn
No service on the Far Rockaway, Hempstead, Long Beach, West Hempstead Branches, between Ronkonkoma and Greenport, or between Speonk and Montauk
No service to and from Grand Central
From frustration to snow angels: How Nassau neighbors weathered the blizzard
6:59 PM: The blizzard left its mark across Long Island, bringing heavy snow, frustration and moments of community.
In Glen Cove, snowplows lined Pearsall Avenue Monday morning as residents dug out from the storm. Ralph Alois said he’s had enough of winter and is ready for spring.
Timelapse: How the storm unfolded
6:15 PM: A News 12 viewer sent in a time lapse video from the very first flakes to the last in Lake Grove. Notice how conditions rapidly deteriorate late in the evening and overnight.
Driver strikes fire hydrant in Southampton hamlet
5:11 PM: Neighbors say a driver struck a fire hydrant in the Town of Southampton, sending water gushing into the snowy street
They say homes in Remsenburg-Speonk are without water service.
News 12 has reached out to the Suffolk County Water Authority for more information.
UPDATE 8:15 PM: SCWA said the hydrant was turned off and the situation was being addressed. "Crews are installing a new hydrant valve as we speak. Once that's done, water service will be restored to customers."
Snow totals across Suffolk and Nassau counties
4:16 PM: The Blizzard of 2026 dumped more than two feet of snow in some areas of Long Island. Here's the forecast.
Unofficial record at MacArthur Airport
2:03 PM: From the National Weather Service: There is a preliminary unofficial record for the largest snowstorm in recorded history at Islip MacArthur Airport since 1963. The National Weather Service will re-examine and declare official in the near future.
Town of Hempstead offers rides to work for ER, ICU doctors and nurses
1 PM: Any resident who lives or works in the town and is an ER or ICU doctor or nurse who needs to get into work can call the town for assistance, Town of Hempstead Supervisor John Ferretti said Monday.
Ferretti announced on News 12 that public safety officers will be able to pick up those essential workers in plows and drive them to their place of employment.
Anyone who is a doctor or nurse and lives or works in the Town of Hempstead can call 516-489-5000 to request pickup.
Suffolk County travel ban extended
12 PM: Suffolk County has extended the travel ban until 3:30 p.m. due to weather conditions.
News 12 team coverage of this historic blizzard across the tri-state
11:20 a.m. Take a look at News 12 team coverage of this historic blizzard from across New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
Town of Islip threatens to ticket cars parked on roadways
10 a.m. The Town of Islip is threatening to ticket cars parked on the roadways.
Cars parked on Union Boulevard Monday morning, which are currently trapped under 3 feet of snow, could be subject to ticketing based on the town's threat.
“It’s treacherous out there.” Blakeman urges residents to stay off roads
9:30 a.m. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman says about 17 inches of snow has fallen already across Nassau County. Another 5 or 6 inches are expected, officials say.
Nassau has extended a travel ban until 11 a.m. but Blakeman is urging residents to stay off the roads unless it is absolutely necessary.
“It’s treacherous out there, we need time for our workers to continue to plow roadways,” said Blakeman.
Tracking dangerous blizzard conditions across Long Island
8:48 a.m. News 12's Logan Crawford is at the Embassy Diner in Bethpage. The owner says they wanted to stay open for essential workers.
King Kullen, Wild by Nature stores remain closed Monday due to storm
8:45 a.m. Due to the winter storm, all King Kullen and Wild by Nature stores will remain closed today. Stores will reopen tomorrow, Feb. 24, on their normal operating schedules. King Kullen Grocery Co., Inc. says it made the decision to remain closed today to help ensure the safety and well-being of our employees and customers.
Gov. Hochul urges Long Islanders to stay home until travel bans are lifted
8:18 a.m. Gov. Kathy Hochul is urging residents on Long Island to stay home until the travel bans are lifted in each county.
“This is unprecedented to see 2 feet of snow in such a short time for Long Island. This is a high impact storm,” said Hochul.
Suffolk County reports 125 accidents so far due to weather
8 a.m. Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine gave an update on conditions across Long Island.
A total of 125 accidents in western Suffolk County have been reported so far, as per the Suffolk County police.
Romaine urged residents to stay patient and stay off the roads if they don’t have a critical job.
NICE Bus pushes back resumption of service to noon
7:30 a.m. NICE Bus says with road conditions as they are, planned resumption of service has been pushed back from 9 a.m. to noon. They will continue to monitor and assess the situation later this morning.
News 12 photojournalist gets stuck in the snow in Ronkonkoma
7 a.m. News 12 crews got stuck in the snow in Ronkonkoma. Ed Sweeting has been a photojournalist and shooting blizzards for 28 years for News 12. He says this is one of the worst blizzards he has seen.
Medford Fire Department on standby for station responses to emergencies
6:58 a.m. Medford Fire Department was on standby for station responses to emergencies on Sunday night during the blizzard. Together, they built two snow-firemen.
Suffolk extends travel ban until noon
6:44 a.m.: Suffolk County has extended the travel ban until noon, with the possibility of further extension, depending on the storm’s evolution and impact.
Nassau extends travel ban until 11 a.m.
6:20 a.m. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman extends non-essential vehicle travel ban until 11 a.m., extending it two more hours.
6:10 a.m. Babylon Public Safety Committee Chair Terence McSweeney provides update on Long Island blizzard impacts.
Thunderbolt 12: Tracking the storm across Long Island
5: 24 a.m. The storm is still dumping snow on Long Island and Thunderbolt 12 is out on the roads providing minute-by-minute looks at the conditions on the ground.
We'll be on the expressway, the parkways and in your communities.
--- Reporting by Jonathan Gordon
Current conditions in Plainview
5 a.m.: Current weather conditions on Plainview.
PSEG reports latest power outage numbers across Long Island
7 a.m.: PSEG is reporting about 17,00 affected customers.
Helpful resources:
Power Outages: PSEG Long Island Outage Map
LIRR service suspended
1 a.m.: LIRR service suspended, service to resume when weather conditions allow.
Major storm slams across Long Island with blizzard-like conditions
Helpful resources:
Power Outages: PSEG Long Island Outage Map
School Closings: Click here for more information
Nassau Inter-County Express Bus (NICE Bus): Service Alerts
Suffolk County Transit: Bus Service Status
Long Island Rail Road: Current Service Alerts
Road Conditions: 511NY
Dept. of Transportation plow truck overturns on Sunrise Highway
11:30 PM: A New York State Dept. of Transported plow truck filled with salt overturned Sunday on Sunrise Highway, according to Suffolk County police.
Police say the snowplow crashed and overturned at 8:14 p.m. near the Brentwood on ramp. The driver was trapped when police responded by sustained no injuries in the crash.
The Bay Shore Fire Department says the truck is still stuck as of 10:45 Sunday.
A Hazmat team responded to assist in the clean-up of a diesel fuel spill for hours, and the right lane of the expressway is closed for further cleanup efforts. Among hazmat, the Department of Environmental Conservation was on scene monitoring waterway hazards. Additionally, the Bay Shore Fire Department, Bay Shore-Brightwaters Rescue Ambulance, Town of Islip Fire Marshal’s, NYS DOT, MTA police and Suffolk County police responded to the scene.
--- Reporting by Karina Kovac
Bethpage diner stays open late as Sunday's snowstorm intensifies
10:47 PM: The Embassy Diner in Bethpage is staying open late as Sunday night's winter storm makes its way across Long Island.
The eatery is going to be open until 2 a.m. to give food to anyone who needs it.
“We stay open for this,” said diner employee Robert Santospago. “We don't do much business, but we stay open for the essential workers because we want to be here for the community.”
"It's a blessing to have somebody you can come here [to]. Great people, great food," said customer Frank Coniglio, of Levittown.
The dinner will reopen on Monday from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m.
--- Reporting by Jenna Rae Gaertner
Travel bans in effect for both Nassau and Suffolk due to major snowstorm
9:16 PM: Travel bans are now in effect for both Nassau and Suffolk counties because of Sunday night's winter storm.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman announced on Saturday that "all non-essential vehicles should be off public roads and highways from 9 p.m. Sunday night until 9 a.m. Monday morning."
In Suffolk, County Executive Ed Romaine issued a travel ban effective from 9 p.m. Sunday through 9 p.m. Monday.
The purpose of the travel bans is to allow snowplows to safely clean up the roadways and for police and firefighters to quickly respond in the event of emergencies.
--- Reporting by Roberto Torres
8:52 PM: Blowing snow from a winter storm is causing visibility issues in Fort Salonga.
Video courtesy of a News 12 viewer.
7:55 PM: First snow totals on Long Island
Nassau chief fire marshal: 60 fire departments on standby for emergency response during major snowstorm
7:32 PM: Nassau Chief Fire Marshal Michael Uttaro told News 12 that about 60 of the 70 fire departments in the county are on standby – meaning they will spend the night in the firehouse during Sunday night's winter storm.
Ambulances are also staffed in-house. If there's a call, ambulances would be dispatched along with a fire vehicle because of the inclement weather conditions.
There are 24 high-axle vehicles throughout all departments and three from the fire marshal's office.
There are extra dispatchers on hand for the expected extra calls. Uttaro also reminds residents to clear the fire hydrants and keep their house numbers visible. If there's blowing snow, house numbers could get covered, and if there's an emergency, crews need to see them quickly and clearly.
--- Reporting by Thema Ponton, Roberto Torres
7:08 PM: Video of snow from a News 12 viewer in East Northport.
6:52 PM: Video of snow accumulations from a News 12 viewer in Lake Grove.
South Shore residents brace for potential flooding from winter storm
6:10 PM: Sunday's major winter storm is bringing concerns of coastal flooding along South Shore communities.
Residents who live on Bay Street and the surrounding roads in Lindenhurst say water rises a couple feet during inclement weather, leaving them wading through to get to their houses.
"Actually, I bought a little canoe because at one point, it was like 2 1/2 ft, and I had to go to the store. So I paddled all the way down the block," said Tony DeFaro.
Residents say it happens about 10 times a year.
"I mean, it's beautiful living near the water, but after all these years, I think something should be done and nothing has gotten done," says resident Benjamin Lopez. He adds the water comes up through the drains and turns the street into a pond.
-- Reporting by Jenna Rae Gaertner
Nassau County DPW crews pretreat roads ahead of major snowstorm
5:22 PM: Crews headed out from the Nassau County Department of Public Works building around 1 p.m. to begin pretreating roads ahead of Sunday night's major snowstorm.
Officials say salting early helps prevent snow and ice from bonding to the pavement once the storm intensifies.
“We'll go out and salt. When it starts sticking, that's when we'll start dropping the plow and cleaning it all up,” said Nassau County Equipment Operator Matthew Waugh.
With significant snowfall forecast island wide, county, town and city crews are preparing for long hours clearing roadways.
A travel ban is going into effect in both Nassau County and Suffolk County to keep roads clear for emergency responders and snow removal teams.
Officials stress that keeping cars off the road is critical to ensuring crews can work efficiently and safely.
“That’s a big obstacle. If everyone gets their cars off the road it helps us tremendously,” Waugh said.
He adds parked cars must also be moved off roadways to give plow operators enough room to maneuver and clear snow effectively.
Officials urge residents to avoid unnecessary travel and allow crews the space they need to keep roads passable throughout the storm.
-- Reporting by Jeremy Skiba
Last LIRR trains schedule
4:40 PM: The MTA announced the schedule for the last LIRR trains that will run late Sunday night before a temporary service suspension due the overnight major winter storm.
"To support a safe and orderly shutdown of the LIRR system," the Port Washington, Port Jefferson, and Babylon branches will operate hourly, beginning 7 p.m. Greenport service and the West Hempstead Branch will end service at 11 p.m.
SEND US YOUR PHOTOS!
3:40 PM: We want to see your winter storm pictures and videos. Send them in, as long it is safe to do so, to News 12. You may see them in the show.
Hofstra University closed on Monday due to major winter storm
3:18 PM: Hofstra University announced that it will be closed on Monday due to the major winter storm that's expected to bring significant snow accumulations.
According to the school, in-person classes are canceled, but remote instruction "will be held in many circumstances."
Events that were scheduled to take place on campus are canceled as well, and administrative offices will be closed.
Students are advised to check with faculty about transitioning to virtual classes. Employees are also advised to coordinate with supervisors about working remotely.
Shuttle service will be suspended beginning at 7 p.m. Sunday.
For more information, visit hofstra.edu/alert.
MTA to temporarily suspend LIRR service, effective 1 a.m. Monday
2:52 PM: The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced that it will temporarily suspend Long Island Rail Road service beginning at 1 a.m. Monday and resume when weather conditions permit it.
LIRR service will be reduced to hourly on the Port Jefferson and Port Washington branches, and half-hourly on the Babylon Branch, effective Sunday at 7 p.m.
The agency warns that LIRR customers should expect delays and cancelations due to the winter weather.
It also encourages riders to stay informed by visiting mta.info, the MTA app, the TrainTime app, email alerts and by calling 511.
Riders with hearing disabilities are encouraged to dial 711 to reach the MTA at 511.
NICE Bus to suspend service, effective 9 p.m. Sunday
2:25 PM: Nassau Inter County Express (NICE) Bus says it will suspend all service at 9 p.m. Sunday in accordance with a ban on non-essential travel in Nassau County until Monday 9 a.m.
It warned of delays or suspensions early in the evening depending on weather conditions.
NICE Bus says it "will continue to assess the roadways and conditions to make a determination about service Monday morning."
Riders are encouraged to use the NICE GoMobile app to check on the status of service in real time.
Gov. Hochul holds news conference ahead of major storm
1:30 PM: New York is about to get hit by a major winter storm that will bring heavy snow, strong winds and dangerous travel conditions. Gov. Hochul is holding an update on statewide preparations.
Suffolk County Transit service to shutdown
1:17 PM: Suffolk County Transit service will shut down systemwide at 4 p.m. today. All service will remain suspended on Monday, February 23. Service is currently scheduled to resume on Tuesday, February 24, with an anticipated delayed 10 a.m. start, weather and road conditions permitting. Riders are advised to monitor the SCT website for updates.
NICE Bus Service Advisory
1:11 PM: NICE Bus is advising riders of potential delays or cancellations from heavy snow, high winds and blizzard conditions later this afternoon and into Monday. Riders are advised to use the NICE GoMobile app (https://www.nicebus.com/Tools/GoMobile-App) to check the status of their specific bus in real-time during and after the storm. Extreme delays, detours, limited service and/or service suspensions are possible.
King Kullen and Wild by Nature stores close at 7 p.m. Sunday
11:50 AM: According to King Kullen's public relations team, due to the winter storm, King Kullen Grocery Co., Inc. will close all King Kullen and Wild by Nature stores today, February 22, at 7 p.m. Stores will reopen tomorrow, February 23, at 11 a.m.
Suffolk County declares state of emergency
10:55 AM: Suffolk County has declared a state of emergency and implemented a travel ban from 9 p.m. Sunday until 9 a.m. Monday. The ban does not apply to essential workers and plow operators.
Hour-by-hour blizzard forecast
9:29 AM: A potentially historic snowstorm with blizzard conditions is in the forecast for New York, New Jersey and Connecticut by through Monday. Isolated spots in the tri-state area could see up to 2 feet of snow. News 12 meteorologist Alex Calamia is here with an hour-by-hour forecast to show you when impacts could be at their worst and most dangerous.
AAA warns of power outages and dangerous travel as nor’easter approaches
8:37 AM: The storm brings the possibility of power outages, and drivers are encouraged to charge phones, portable chargers and other essential items before the worst conditions arrive. Click here for some tips from AAA.
Power center: Electric outage resources
5:45 AM: Dealing with an electric outage during the storm? Click here for links to report an outage and view the outage map in your area.
25 tips to keep you safe during a winter storm
5:26 AM: The Red Cross put together some tips that will help keep residents stay safe during a snowstorm. Click here for more information.
NYS Emergency Management: Search and rescue teams will be on Long Island during major snowstorm
Saturday 10: 14 PM: The New York State Office of Emergency Management is doing their best to keep communities safe during Sunday's major snowstorm. Director Pete Cichetti says search and rescue teams will be stationed across Long Island.
Gov. Hochul declares state of emergency ahead of Sunday's winter storm
Saturday 8:37 PM: Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency beginning Sunday morning ahead of the major winter storm that expected to impact travel conditions on Sunday.
BLAKEMAN BANS 'CIVILIAN VEHICLE OPERATION'
Saturday 7:34 PM: Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman banning civilian vehicle operation during peak storm hours.
