Thursday, October 1, 2026
As a heavy snowfall accumulated on the South Shore late into Tuesday night, blowing in drifts at subzero temperatures, local commuters braved a long, slippery ride home while train and bus services ran into major delays and treacherous conditions.
New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued a state of emergency Tuesday night, activating 239 plows, 27 front loaders, 428 operators and private contractors to remove snow on Long Island roadways.
“This winter storm will bring a one-two punch of snow and extreme cold. I urge all those in the affected regions to exercise caution, and avoid travel if possible,” Gov. Cuomo said. “State resources are deployed to clear snow and help those impacted by the storm, but above all it is important that New Yorkers remain safe both during and after the storm.”
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority reported 10 to 15 minute delays on the Long Island Rail Road on both east and westbound trains that night, later reducing service on a branch-by-branch basis after 8 p.m. as the storm reached near blizzard conditions.
In accordance with storm recovery procedures, MTA spokesman Sal Arena said LIRR service could be curtailed or suspended if snowfall reaches 10 to 13 inches after 11 p.m.
"We don’t want to have anyone in harm’s way," Arena said. "We don’t want people stranded on trains... We want to get everyone home safely tonight."
As part of storm recovery protocol, LIRR employees have begun salting station platforms in and around station areas prior to the storm and clear platforms once snow starts falling. Employees also sprayed anti-freeze on the third rail on the tracks and inside of train doors and activated switch heaters on the ground to prevent ice from accumulating and freezing on rails.
The Nassau Inter County Express bus service also encountered severe delays and detours that night, changing its routes as road conditions become treacherous, according to NICE spokesman Andy Kraus.
At around 3 p.m., NICE reported, via the company’s Twitter account, severe delays lasting up to 1 hour with buses moving at about 5 to 10 miles an hour due to road congestion.
“NICE has a storm plan, which includes making decisions on changes to service on routes that are traditionally impacted by weather and bad road conditions,” Kraus said. “NICE is closely monitoring weather conditions and will make decisions about service as warranted.”
For more winter travel advisories and service alerts before Wednesday morning's commute, check www.mta.info and www.nicebus.com.
