Thursday, October 1, 2026
More than a 2-feet snow has dropped across Nassau County and in some places, according to totals reported by the National Weather Service, in what is considered a historic storm that was termed a blizzard for a hue part of it.
In Nassau County, North Merrick reportedly had 25.4 inches, East Massapequa 24.5, Bethpage 24.4 and Lynbrook 24, according to the NWS.
A blizzard is defined as a severe winter storm lasting at least three hours, characterized by sustained winds or frequent gusts over 35 mph and considerable falling/blowing snow that reduces visibility to less than a 1/4 mile. Wind and visibility, not total snow accumulation determines if the storm is a blizzard, which can cause whiteout conditions and significant drifting. There were wind gusts up to 45 to 55 mph in some areas.
The two-day winter weather had organizations and institutions canceling or postponing activities on Sunday and schools in Nassau were closed on Monday and most were closed on Tuesday.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and Gov. Kathy Hochul declared states of emergency and a Nassau imposed a travel ban for non-essential workers.
The Long Island Rail Road and Nassau Inter-County Express bus service shuttered operations later Monday, and are now offering full service again.
As of press time, PSEG-Long Island officials said that 98 percent of the 45,000 customers affected by the storm had their power restored.
Nassau County Bruce Blakeman and three town supervisors; Hempstead Town’s John Ferretti, Joseph Saladino of Oyster Bay and Jennifer DeSena of North Hempstead gathered at Nickerson Beach Park in Lido Beach to address the storm.
Blakeman noted the amount of trucks — 75 — that will be out salting and preparing the county roads.
Ferretti echoed the advice to remove cars from the roadway as best as possible, to facilitate curb-to-curb plowing. He also offered an overlooked but critically important reminder for neighborhoods.
“If there are fire hydrants in front of your home, please clear them out,” Ferretti said. "So our first responders, in case of an emergency, have access to them.”
Fire departments across the county have made this a point of concern.
“Seconds count in a fire, and a buried hydrant can severely delay fire operations for your Lynbrook firefighters,” Chief Clayton Murphy said in a statement.
Saladino emphasized moving vehicles off the street and onto driveways to help sure that plowing operations can be performed. Operations that continued through Tuesday.
“Park in your driveway. If you don't have room in your driveway, today, before the snow comes, arrange with a neighbor to park in their driveway,” Saladino suggested. "It is such a critical piece of our snow cleaning operation. If we get those cars off the street, even more than in past storms, it will make a big, big difference.”
Blakeman announced the opening of two temporary warming centers. A women-only center will be opened at 1 Charles Lindbergh Blvd in Uniondale — the Mitchel Field Athletic Complex. Men and families can shelter at 1200 Old Country Road in Westbury — formerly the Nassau County Family Court building.
