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Snow and ice storm set to hit early Tuesday

BARBARAELLEN KOCH PHOTO | A town highway department truck hauls away snow from Second Street in Riverhead Saturday morning.

The National Weather Service in Upton has issued a winter storm watch that runs from Tuesday morning into Wednesday night, during which time forecasters are calling for 2 to 5 inches of snow, sleet and freezing rain, with a 1/4 to 1/2 inch of ice falling over Long Island.

Snow is expected to arrive before sunrise Tuesday, according to the Weather Service, with sleet continuing through much of the day and into the night.

The wintry mix will then turn to rain at some point Wednesday, when “the heaviest precipitation will occur,” according to the storm watch.

The “large” two-day storm is expected to make for dangerous travel, with the ice threatening to topple tree limbs and power lines, officials said.

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