Update (7 p.m.):
The National Weather Service has placed Sayville, Bayport and Blue Point along with the entire south shore of Long Island in a Coastal Flood Advisory for 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Forecasts call for tidal departures of 2 to 3 feet and significant beach erosion, especially on those facing the Atlantic Ocean where waves will break at 8 to 14 feet.
Meteorologists have also upped their forecasted snowfall totals for the island. Nassau County and Western Suffolk County are in a 4 to 6 inch accumulation zone while Central and Eastern Suffolk County could expect 5 to 8 inches of snowfall through Friday morning.
Original Story
An early March storm now taking aim at the south shore will bring with it high winds and coastal flooding, but how much snow will fall — if any — remains unknown as of now.
As of 3 p.m. Tuesday, the National Weather Service has issued a Coastal Flood Watch for all of Long Island. The forecast calls for tides to be as much as 3.5 feet above normal along the south shore with waves of 8 feet to 14 feet along Atlantic-facing beaches. The watch also forecasted "significant" beach erosion.
The storm, currently sitting over the midwest, is heading towards the Maryland-Virginia area and is forecasted to re-intensify off the Delaware-Maryland coast and pull in colder air. Forecasters, however, have not offered any predictions on snow total amounts.
Although precipitation totals remain foggy, what is clear is that winds will be a significant issue as the low pressure system lingers to the south and then east of Long Island. The National Weather Service issued a Wind Advisory for all of Long Island at 4 p.m. Tuesday, forecasting sustained winds are expected to be 25 to 35 mph throughout Wednesday and Thursday, with some gusts in the 55 to 60 mph range. This could lead to downed trees and possible power outages.
The National Weather Service stressed in a Hazardous Weather Outlook that residents should prepare for the oncoming winds and possible flooding, and monitor local media for storm updates.
Find your local forecast here on WeatherUnderground.
Stay tuned to Patch as we continue to monitor the storm!
