Winter returns to Wantagh-Seaford

Snow blanketed homes in Seaford by 8 a.m.

Julie Mansmann/Herald

Wantagh and Seaford residents had to take their winter coats out of their closets before heading on a snowy morning commute on Friday.

After two spring-like days with temperatures reaching 65 degrees, snow began to fall across the area on March 10 around 7 a.m. According to the National Weather Service, the snowy weather will persist until about 3 p.m. in Wantagh and Seaford, with 2 to 4 inches accumulating on local roadways and properties.

Winds could gust as high as 25 miles per hour throughout the day, blowing the snow around. On Friday evening, wind chill values will be between 0 and 10 degrees. Temperatures may drop to 16 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

Mangano said that DPW is also ready to plow and salt county roadways. “Our Office of Emergency Management is closely monitoring the storm and has put assets in place to assist residents should the need arise," he said. 

Nassau County DPW has 22,000 tons of road salt and 2,250 tons of road sand on hand. DPW's snowfighting fleet includes 115 plow/salt trucks, 20 pick-ups with plows and sanders, 10 payloaders and 3 brine trucks that cover 2,000 lane miles throughout the county.

County officials offered the following safety tips in a news release:

Property owners:

• Do not plow snow across the road or shovel snow from your driveway onto shoulders or roadways.
• Do not pile snow high near intersections or driveways obstructing others' vision; Park vehicles away from the road and follow local parking ordinances related to snow removal.
• Keep rocks, timbers, fences, basketball hoops, garbage bins, reflectors and other items away from the road.
• Keep areas around mailboxes clear in order to assist in safe mail delivery and to help prevent damage to mailboxes.
• Maintaining the end of your driveway could decrease chances of getting plowed in, or having your mailbox damaged.
• Keep sidewalks and pathways clear for pedestrians.

Children:

• Never build snow forts, make tunnels, or play in ditches or snow banks by the road.
• Stay away from the edge of the roadway as you wait for the school bus, get the mail, or watch the snow plow.
• Stay away from the end of a driveway when a snow plow is approaching.
• Keep sleds and toys away from the roadways at all times.
• Remember, the plow driver can't always see you.

Drivers:

• Drivers should use extra precautions on the roads this winter season, especially when driving near trucks that are plowing and salting.
• Always wear your seatbelt and allow extra time to reach your destination.
• Do your best to minimize distractions so your focus can be on driving.
• Don't attempt to pass a snow plow vehicle while they are plowing.
• NEVER attempt to pass a snow plow on the right. Many plows are equipped with wings that weigh as much as a small compact car.
• Plows can suddenly move sideways from hitting drifts or by cutting through packed snow.
• Plow drivers have limited visibility and they cannot see directly behind their trucks.
• Avoid sudden starts, stops and turns. Accelerate carefully so car wheels don't spin.
• Improve visibility by clearing all snow and ice from the entire car – hood, roof, trunk, turn signals, tail lights, headlights, windows, mirrors and fender wells.
• Driving with headlights on low-beam provides better road illumination in snow and fog than using high-beams.