Winter Storm Could Hit LI This Weekend: What To Expect

LONG ISLAND, NY — Long Islanders could be hit with their first major winter storm of the season this weekend — but whether or not the area will see snow accumulation or just rain is still very much unclear, experts said.

According to Bryan Ramsey, meteorologist with the National Weather Service Office in Upton, because the weather system is still three days out, "it's what we know, versus what we don't know."

What is clear, he said, is that there is a potential for moderate to heavy precipitation and gusty to strong winds Saturday evening into the day on Sunday.

It's not yet been determined whether rain or snow is expected, he added. "We're looking at a lot of different solutions, with no real consensus on the track of this coastal storm," with its potential path varying by 300 miles, he said.

"It depends on the track of the low pressure system," Ramsey said. "Since the confidence is low on if we will see rain or snow, and how much we will see, right now, it's probably around 1 inch on the low end, and a chance of 2 inches, of rain."

If, however, that rain turns into snow, "It could be a significant snowfall," Ramsey said. On Long Island, which is a coastal area, the chance for significant snowfall currently stands at 10 to 30 percent. "There are some scenarios where we could see none at all — or up to 10 inches," Ramsey said.

So for now, he said, it's a wait-and-see situation. "By tomorrow or Friday we'll be better able to resolve exactly what will occur, and how much," he said.