North Fork Polar Plunge postponed due to incoming snowstorm
It’s going to be too cold for polar bears this weekend.
The fourth annual North Fork Polar Plunge scheduled for Sunday was postponed because of the predicted monster snowstorm barreling toward the North Fork.
The North Fork Polar Bears’, the Center for Advocacy, Support & Transformation and the Cornell Cooperative Extension announced Friday the popular event will be rescheduled for Sunday, Feb. 1, at 10 a.m. at Veterans Beach in Mattituck.
With concerns of hazardous travel conditions, potential power outages and near-whiteout conditions, CAST executive director Erica Steindl said there was no choice but to reschedule, for the safety of the plungers.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a state of emergency shortly before organizers temporarily put the event on ice.
“We won’t be doing it in a state of emergency,” Ms. Steindl told The Suffolk Times. “We were unable to make it work out. It’s supposed to be so cold — not that the Polar Bear Plunge isn’t cold anyway, but, I think it’s for the best.”
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for all of Suffolk County, with Sunday’s forecast calling for a high of 26 degrees and a low of 13 degrees. Periods of snow during the morning will transition to a wintry mix in the afternoon, with 8 to 12 inches of snow and ice expected.
Organizers expect up to 500 plungers and spectators for the rescheduled event.
Anyone who is unable to attend can pick up their merchandise at CAST in Southold on Wednesday, Jan. 28, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Thursday, Jan. 29, from noon to 4 p.m.
