UPDATE: Blizzard warning, 20 to 30 inches expected with locally higher amounts

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Blizzard Warning
URGENT – Winter weather message
National Weather Service, New York, NY
12:56 p.m. est Mon. Jan.

…Crippling and potentially historic blizzard to impact the area into Tuesday…

…Blizzard warning remains in effect until midnight EST Tuesday night…

* Locations…New Haven…Middlesex…New London and Southern Fairfield counties in Connecticut. Hudson…Eastern Bergen…Eastern Essex and Eastern Union counties in New Jersey. Southern Westchester…New York (Manhattan)…Bronx…Richmond (Staten Island)…Kings (Brooklyn)…Suffolk…Queens and Nassau counties in New York.

* Hazard types…Heavy snow and blowing snow…with blizzard conditions.

* Accumulations…Snow accumulation of 20 to 30 inches with locally higher amounts..Especially across Long Island and Connecticut.

* Snowfall rates…2 to 4 inches per hour late tonight into Tuesday morning.

* Winds…North 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. Gusts up to 60 mph possible across eastern Long Island.

* Visibilities…One quarter mile or less at times.

* Temperatures…Lower to mid 20s.

* Timing…Light to moderate snow will accumulate up to 4 inches by sunset. Snow will pick up in intensity this evening…With the heaviest snow and strongest winds from about midnight into Tuesday afternoon.

* Impacts…Life-threatening conditions and extremely dangerous travel due to heavy snowfall and strong winds…With whiteout conditions. Many roads may become impassable. Strong winds may down power lines and tree limbs.

Precautionary/preparedness actions…

A blizzard warning means severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds and poor visibilities will lead to whiteout conditions…Making travel extremely dangerous. Do not travel. If you must travel… Have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded…Stay with your vehicle.

All unnecessary travel is discouraged beginning monday afternoon…To allow people already on the road to safely reach their destinations before the heavy snow begins…And to allow snow removal equipment to begin to clear roads.