Chance of Snow: 100 Percent; Blizzard Possible

A major winter storm is forecast to slam into the Northeast Friday and overnight into Saturday, bringing as much as one-to-two feet of snow to parts of Long Island.

Plainview will not be spared the storm; the only question is how bad the local impact will be (see the attached NWS satellite map.) The nor'easter is further complicated by expected high winds with gusts approaching hurricane force, the NWS is reporting.

The NWS issued a "blizzard warning" for Nassau and Suffolk counties effective at 6 a.m. Friday, meaning travel could become treacherous by the afternoon and early evening and visibility will be cut to a quarter mile or less. Temperatures will drop into the 20s overnight.

The high winds "will create significant impacts to transportation and power," The NWS reported at 1 a.m. Friday.

Here are the latest overnight updates:

• Plainview schools are expected to be open Friday, but an early dismissal is possible. Check Patch or the district's website here for details as they become available.
• Modest gas lines appeared in Plainview and across the Eastern Nassau area Thursday night in what appeared to be panic buying. Some people were topping off their tanks with bad memories left over from Hurricane Sandy. Authorities said there is plenty of fuel, but early Friday, several North Shore gas stations were out of regular gas.
• Grocery stores were fully stocked with food but bread and some meat seemed in diminished supply.
• Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will be activated at noon Friday to monitor the storm and coordinate response efforts. The state Department of Transportation has more than 1,270 plow trucks and 1,582 drivers standing by.
• County Executive Edward P. Mangano said Nassau is ready for the onslaught. See story here:
• The Long Island Rail Road will deploy fleets of snow and ice-busting equipment to keep outdoor tracks, third rails and overhead wires clear of snow and ice. The railroad said it will attempt to keep its switches operational and has 3,000 workers on call.

Check back frequently with Patch throughout the day Friday for frequent updates. Feel free to contact us with news you see in and around the community.