Working to get back to work: Travel remains difficult on local roads

Riverhead residents and businesses are attempting to return to normal this morning, though local road conditions continue to make travel difficult.

All town roads have been opened by plows, but blowing snow overnight caused drifting in some places, Riverhead Highway Superintendent George Woodson.

Peconic Bay Boulevard was closed east of South Jamesport Avenue due to drifting and a highway crew was dispatched to open the road before 6:30 this morning, Woodson said.

Some intersections around town have become partly obstructed by snow and ice. There have been reports of vehicles becoming stuck in Riverhead and Calverton.

Highway crews are out early this morning cleaning up intersections and drifts. They are also sanding trouble spots this morning.

A light snow before daybreak this morning coated untreated surfaces with about a half-inch of snow. It tapered off to flurries by dawn.

The state of emergency declared by Supervisor Sean Walter Monday night has been rescinded effective 7:30 a.m., Police Chief David Hegermiller said this morning.

“People should be sure to drive for the conditions of the road. The roads are open, but they’re not perfect. Some side roads especially are tricky,” Woodson said. “If you don’t have to go out, stay home and stay off the roads.”

Riverhead public and parochial schools are all closed today. The library is also closed. Suffolk County buses will resume local service (S92, 8A) at 9 a.m. LIRR trains are not running between Ronkonkoma and Greenport this morning. Government offices are scheduled to open at their normal time.

Walter said yesterday recyclables pickup will go on today as scheduled.

Riverhead saw 16.1 inches of snow, according to Tim Morrin, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Upton. Some parts of town saw higher amounts, he said. Flanders had total accumulation of 22 inches. About 27 inches fell in Mattituck and Orient recorded the highest snow total in Suffolk with 30 inches.

There is more snow in our forecast. A fast-moving clipper will bring a bit more snow to the area Thursday night, but no significant accumulations are expected. Another low on Sunday night into Monday is expected to have bigger impacts, with the potential for 6 or more inches of snow or one to two inches of rain, depending on the track of the storm.

Temperatures, meanwhile, are forecast to remain cold through the weekend, with highs in the 20s and overnight lows in the single digits Friday and Saturday.

Check RiverheadLOCAL’s closings and cancellations page for updated information.

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