Snow Squall Warning Issued For East End

EAST END, NY — A loud, blaring sound echoed from phones across the East End Wednesday — a National Weather Service warning of potential snow squalls across the area.

The snow squalls, which could possibly impact Wading River and Manorville, Calverton, Westhampton, Riverhead, Mattituck, Shinnecock Hills, Peconic, Southampton, Noyack, Sag Harbor and Bridgehampton, are expected through 11:30 a.m.

Snow squalls can cause whiteout conditions and high winds, said Matthew Wunsch of the National Weather Service office in Upton; they are typically caused by cold air moving in with a low level instability in the atmosphere causing a rapid lift from the surface upward. "It's similar to a thunderstorm but not as intense," he said.

The main issue is for motorists as the snow squalls, which can last a half hour to an hour, can mean visibility drops to near zero and wind gusts can be recorded in excess of 35 miles per hour.

Snow showers may follow across the East End Wednesday afternoon, Wunsch said.