Hazardous Weather Outlook Issued for Kings Park

The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for all of Suffolk County, with a wind advisory in effect until 1 p.m. Friday.

Wind gusts of up to 50 mph have the potential to cause minor property damage and make driving difficult. The strongest winds are expected Friday morning in exposed/elevated areas and on the South Shore, the NWS said.

The National Weather Service also issued the following special weather statement at 6:53 a.m. Friday:

A BAND OF MODERATE TO LOCALLY HEAVY SNOW WILL MOVE EAST ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE LOWER HUDSON VALLEY...SOUTHWEST CONNECTICUT...THE NEW YORK CITY METROPOLITAN AREA...AND WESTERN LONG ISLAND BETWEEN NOW AND 9 AM. THE SNOW WILL ACCUMULATE QUICKLY ON ROADS...AND SOME LOCATIONS WITHIN THIS BAND COULD RECEIVE A QUICK INCH OF ACCUMULATION IN A HALF HOUR. THIS PLUS WINDS GUSTING TO 25 TO 35 MPH WILL RESULT IN BRIEF WHITEOUT CONDITIONS...CAUSING VERY HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS.

The NWS forecast:

• Today- Snow showers likely, mainly before 11am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 33. Wind chill values between 15 and 20. Windy, with a west wind 21 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 47 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
• Tonight- Mostly clear, with a low around 15. Wind chill values between 5 and 10. West wind 13 to 17 mph.
• Saturday- Sunny, with a high near 22. Wind chill values between zero and 10. West wind 15 to 17 mph.
• Saturday Night- Partly cloudy, with a low around 16. Wind chill values between 5 and 10. West wind 8 to 10 mph.
• Sunday- Partly sunny, with a high near 35. Southwest wind 6 to 11 mph.

Some tips for driving in the snow from AAA:

• Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Applying the gas slowly to accelerate is the best method for regaining traction and avoiding skids. Don’t try to get moving in a hurry. And take time to slow down for a stoplight. Remember: It takes longer to slow down on icy roads.
• Drive slowly. Everything takes longer on snow-covered roads. Accelerating, stopping, turning – nothing happens as quickly as on dry pavement. Give yourself time to maneuver by driving slowly.
• The normal dry pavement following distance of three to four seconds should be increased to eight to ten seconds. This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you have to stop.
• Know your brakes. Whether you have antilock brakes or not, the best way to stop is threshold breaking. Keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.
• Don’t stop if you can avoid it. There’s a big difference in the amount of inertia it takes to start moving from a full stop versus how much it takes to get moving while still rolling. If you can slow down enough to keep rolling until a traffic light changes, do it.
• Don’t power up hills. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads just starts your wheels spinning. Try to get a little inertia going before you reach the hill and let that inertia carry you to the top. As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed down hill as slowly as possible.
• Don’t stop going up a hill. There’s nothing worse than trying to get moving up a hill on an icy road. Get some inertia going on a flat roadway before you take on the hill.
• Stay home. If you really don’t have to go out, don’t. Even if you can drive well in the snow, not everyone else can. Don’t tempt fate: If you don’t have somewhere you have to be, watch the snow from indoors.

Photo: National Weather Service

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