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Riverhead schools delayed two hours, 35 cars pulled from snow

BARBARAELLEN KOCH PHOTO | Blowing snow on Doctor's Path near Reeves Avenue Wednesday afternoon.

Opening of schools in the Riverhead School District was delayed by two hours this morning and a few cars were pulled from snow banks due to the white stuff being blown around area roads.

Children should plan on being at the bus stop two hours later than normal pick-up time and school will dismiss at regular time, district officials said.

School was closed Wednesday due to the storm that brought more than a foot of snow to the area.

Riverhead highway superintendent George “Gio” Woodson said his crews had pulled about 35 cars that had gotten stuck in the snow since the storm started, including about four this morning. He said a section of Reeves Avenue was impassable but should be cleared shortly.

Northville Turnpike, a county road, was closed about 5 a.m. due to drifting snow this morning, but was expected to reopen by 10 a.m.

“Everybody worked probably 30 36 hours straight,” he said of his staff. “I had to send them home.”  He said when his crew went home, the wind began whipping snow from drifts back onto the streets.

Long Island Rail Road service has been restored along the Greenport and Montauk lines.

Baiting Hollow had received 17.7 inches of snow as of 8 p.m., while Riverhead received nearly 11 inches as of 1:30 p.m. yesterday, according to totals from the National Weather Service in Upton. Residents reported totals of over 15 inches in their yards.

A high temperature of 26 is expected today with mostly sunny skies. The forecast also calls for northwest winds of around 14 mph. Temperatures are predicted to rise above freezing Saturday when a high of 35 is expected.

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