Long Island Weather: Snow Winding Down, Major Storm Possible Next Week

Update 2 p.m.: The winter weather advisory for Nassau County and western Suffolk ended at 2 p.m. An advisory remains in effect until 4 p.m for the East End. Snow totals for Friday are now expected to be in the 3-5 inch range islandwide.

Original story:

Snow is developing much later than expected on Long Island Friday, but several inches of accumulation are still in the forecast, and it will create a slippery mess on the roadways.

All Long Island public school districts are open Friday, but early dismissals are certainly possible as the snow picks up in intensity through the morning.

Snow total projections for the island have dropped slightly since Thursday night. Nassau County and western Suffolk County, under a winter weather advisory until 2 p.m., are now expected to see 3-4 inches. The East End, under a winter storm warning until 4 p.m., will likely get 4-6 inches of accumulation.

There will be a narrow band of moderate to occasionally heavy snow with a 2-4 hour window of snowfall rates of around an inch an hour in some areas. The snow is expected to taper off in the early to mid afternoon, ending last across the East End.

Once the snow stops, all attention is going to quickly turn to what could be an even bigger snowstorm early next week.

"Models continue to strongly signal potential for a strong coastal storm during the Monday night into Tuesday night period," the NWS says. There is the "potential for a significant snowstorm combined with wind" during that period.

The NWS has not yet released any snow total estimates for next week. When they do, get them straight to your inbox by signing up for Patch news alerts here.

The full forecast:

Friday- Snow, mainly before 3pm. Temperature falling to around 32 by 9am. Wind chill values between 20 and 30. Northeast wind 10 to 14 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Friday Night- Partly cloudy, with a low around 16. Wind chill values between zero and 10. Blustery, with a northwest wind 16 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph.

Saturday- Mostly sunny, with a high near 28. Wind chill values between zero and 10. Blustery, with a northwest wind 16 to 20 mph.

Saturday Night- Partly cloudy, with a low around 15. Wind chill values between 5 and 10. Northwest wind 11 to 15 mph.

Sunday- Partly sunny, with a high near 28. Northwest wind 11 to 16 mph.

Sunday Night- Mostly clear, with a low around 15.

Monday- Mostly sunny, with a high near 30.

Monday Night- Snow likely, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Tuesday- Snow likely. Cloudy, with a high near 35. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Tuesday Night- Snow likely before midnight, then a chance of snow showers after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 24. Blustery. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Wednesday- A 30 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 33. Breezy.