Weather

Winter storm warning downgraded after minimal snowfall hits

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Mother Nature spared the East End, as highway superintendents didn’t even have to call out the plows to clear the roads this morning due to a lack of expected snowfall.

The National Weather Service has downgraded its winter storm warning to a winter weather advisory after predicting four to eight inches on the East End.

Instead, roads that look as though they may have already been cleared by a plow never accumulated much of any snow at all.

“They’re pretty darn black,” said Southold Highway Superintendent Vincent Orlando. “It looks like we got the lesser of two evils. Of course, people should still use caution driving.”

Mr. Orlando sent out trucks to put down a salt and sand mixture around 4 a.m., while in Riverhead, Highway Superintendent Gio Woodson called some of his crew in around 5 a.m. to check the roads around town, treating the main thoroughfares such as Main Road and Sound Avenue.

“Like everything else, it can be slippery,” he said. “Just take it easy and drive slow.”

A winter weather advisory remains in effect until 10 a.m. and local school delays still remain in effect. The NWS is still saying three to five inches could end up falling by mid-morning.