Winter storm wallops Bellmore-Merrick

As predicted by the National Weather Service, snow started to fall in Bellmore-Merrick around 6 p.m. on Thursday, and driving conditions started to turn hazardous as snow that had melted during the day began to freeze on the pavement. By 7 a.m. on Friday, six to 10 inches had fallen across the area, and heavy winds coupled with temperatures in the teens made outside conditions virtually unbearable.

Early in the morning on Friday, roads had been plowed, but winds blew snow back onto streets. A handful of people could be seen out shoveling their driveways and headed to work.

Joe Ferper, 32, said his boss notified him this morning that their office was closed. He was so focused on clearing his driveway and front sidewalk of snow so he could get back inside and enjoy the rest of the day relaxing at home that he did not stop shoveling as he spoke to a Herald Life reporter.

“It’s not too bad,” Ferper said of the snowfall. “It could always be worse. At least it’s not wet snow.”

Not too far away, Max Grossman, 23, of Merrick, got help from his friends Joe Gutterman, 23, of Plainview, and Aaron Hoberman, 22, of Plainview, in clearing out his driveway with a shovel and snow blower. The three said they, too, planned to spend the afternoon “watching TV and drinking cocoa,” and perhaps go see the movie “The Wolf of Wall Street” at a theater.

Susan Schochner, 41, was up at 7:15 a.m. to shovel her driveway. By 11 a.m., she had most of it done, though she credited her daughter with lending a hand. Schochner works from home, so she did not have to worry about commuting this morning, but her husband, who works in Manhattan, left home at midnight and drove into the city to ensure he would make it to work today.

“I was very nervous,” Schochner said. “Thankfully, he made it there alive and well.”

On Friday afternoon, the snowfall dissipated and the sun broke through the clouds. On Friday night, it was supposed to be mostly clear, with a low around 3. Wind chill values could be as low as -5.

On Saturday, it was supposed to be sunny, with a high near 29. There will be a light west wind in the morning.

As the storm approached on Thursday, there was a run on bottled water, milk, bread and eggs at local supermarkets, and there were long lines at gas stations such as the BJs in Freeport.

As the storm began to gather strength around 7 on Thursday evening, the outside temperature was 23 degrees in Merrick, with the temperature dropping to a low of 16 overnight, according to the NWS.

The weather service had predicted four to eight inches of snow for Bellmore-Merrick, with wind gusts up to 34 miles per hour, and its predictions were spot on. For the latest NWS forecast for Bellmore-Merrick, click on the hyperlink in the first paragraph.

All Bellmore-Merrick School Districts were cancelled school for Friday.