Long Island Buried

Dangerous conditions and historic snow snarl communities

The winter storm that hit the northeast over the weekend had a tremendous effect on Long Island, New York, especially Suffolk County and Town of Brookhaven.

People joked about stocking up on supplies before the storm, but it became no joke when roads became unusable and residents could not leave their homes for days.  Schools were closed early Friday and eventually Monday and Tuesday since streets were still not plowed.

"The storm hit at a time commuters were making their way back from the city," said Suffolk county Executive Steven Bellone. "The snow just swallowed them up. It came down so hard and so fast." 

Read the rest of the story on the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps website!

—Kid Reporter William Russell

Photo: Snow buries Kid Reporter William Russell's bloc in Sound Beach. This was the scene all over Brookhaven Town in Long Island, New York, after the winter storm. (William Russell)
 

Snow covers Connecticut

On Thursday evening, weather reports predicted a little more than seven inches of snow would fall in Westport, Connecticut. Those weathermen were in for a shock.

Storm Nemo dropped a foot and a half of snow on Westport, a coastal Connecticut town.

Schools were open Friday morning, but suddenly the skies opened up.  Thick snow rained down on the town.  Students arrived at school through the treacherous conditions, but were soon notified that there would be early dismissal for the Westport Public Schools.

After school let out, kids took to the biggest hills they could find armed with their sleds.  Everyone enjoyed shooting down the slopes with their friends. Friday night brought heavy winds, but Saturday morning the children were back at the town’s best sledding spots.

The 18 inches of snow were the most in two years.  Most kids said that they spent the weekend sipping hot chocolate, skiing, sledding, and enjoying the snow.

—Kid Reporter Cooper Boardman

Blizzard dumps massive amount of snow on Long Island

A place still recovering from Hurricane Sandy gets hit with nearly three feet of snow

The Town of Brookhaven was hit the hardest by the blizzard Nemo. Some neighborhoods -- including my community of Sound Beach -- got 32 inches of snow!

It all started Thursday night as people started to prepared for the storm.  We all lived through Hurricane Sandy, and a lot of people feared they would lose power during this storm, too. There were also long lines at gas stations and gas was running out -- just like what happened with Sandy. People waited in long lines at grocery stores to get supplies.

On Friday, we woke up to light snow but still went to school. By 12:45 my school was closed and we all got to go home! The snow was getting heavier. Weather stations kept saying it would turn to rain but it never did.  All night the snow got heavier and heavier. We could hear branches cracking outside.  Cars were getting stuck on roads. People we knew were trapped in cars or at train stations trying to figure out how to get home!

The snow got so high that we couldn't open our front door. The branches on trees we hanging all the way to the ground.  We just kept our fingers crossed the power would stay on.

By Saturday morning, the snow had ended and we could see our winter wonderland! Although some people were not happy to shovel! The sound of snow blowers fill the air.  Kids are snowball fighting and sledding.  The snow is so high that its difficult to walk in some spots.

The town of Brookhaven has issued an emergency executive order that states nobody is allowed to be out on the roads starting at 10:00 a.m. until further notice.  The roads are really dangerous for travel.

I plan in spending my day building a snowman and drinking lots of hot chocolate!

—Kid Reporter William Russell

Photo: Snow blankets cars an streets in Sound Beach, Long Island. There is so much snow that tree branches are sagging under the weight. (Courtesy William Russell)

Blizzard Bears Down

Northeast braces for historic storm

In recent years, the Boston area hasn't been hit by any major snowstorms. But that is all about to change.

A major winter storm has begun moving dropping heavy snow, ice, and rain on the northeastern part of the United States. The storm has been named Nemo by the Weather Channel, and it could bring one of the largest blizzards this section of the country has ever seen.

Read the rest of the story on the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps website! And share your stories and experiences of the storm in the comments section below!

Photo: Kevin Quick plows a slushy mix during a winter storm in Buffalo, New York, on Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. (AP Photo/David Duprey)

—Kid Reporter Coleman Hirschberg