Snow is coming. Honestly, if you've lived here long enough, you know the drill: the forecast shifts every three hours, and suddenly your "mostly cloudy" Sunday plans turn into a "where did I put the ice scraper?" situation.
Sunday, January 18, 2026, isn't going to be a total washout, but it's definitely going to be one of those classic, damp Long Island days. The high temperature is hitting exactly 36°F, which is just enough to keep things messy. If you're out East in Montauk or stuck in traffic on the LIE near Melville, you’re looking at a 40% chance of snow during the day.
Breaking Down the Sunday Scramble
The morning starts off with that heavy, grey sky we all love to hate. According to the latest data, the daytime condition is categorized as snow, with a humidity level hanging high at 78%. This isn't the light, fluffy stuff that looks good on Instagram; it's the wet, heavy variety that makes the roads slick and your boots salt-stained.
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Wind is coming from the northwest at 7 mph. That’s basically a light breeze, but when it’s 36°F, it feels much sharper than it sounds.
By the time the sun sets—which the National Weather Service puts at 4:56 PM for our area—the snow chance holds steady at 40%. However, the sky should transition toward being partly cloudy overnight. If you're heading out for dinner in Huntington or Patchogue, keep in mind the low temperature will drop to 24°F. That 12-degree drop is the real story here. Anything that melted or stayed wet during the afternoon is going to freeze solid by Monday morning.
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The Real Deal on Accumulation and Roads
Let’s be real: a 40% chance of snow usually means we’re looking at a coating to maybe an inch, especially on the grass. The pavement usually stays too warm for the big stuff to stick early in the day, but the slush is the real enemy.
- Morning Commuters: If you're working the Sunday shift, leave ten minutes early. Visibility won't be great with that 78% humidity.
- The "Freeze-Over": The drop to 24°F overnight is the biggest risk for black ice on the parkways.
- Power Lines: With winds only at 7 mph, we aren't worried about trees coming down. It’s a "sweater and boots" day, not a "generator and candles" day.
Why the Forecast Changes So Fast
Long Island weather is weird because we’re a giant sandbar stuck between the Sound and the Atlantic. Tomorrow's UV index is a 1, so don't worry about the sun peeking through to melt the ice for you. Basically, what you see at 10:00 AM is likely what you’re stuck with until the evening clearing begins.
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It’s easy to look at a "36-degree" day and think it’s not that cold. But with the northwest wind and the dampness, it’s a bone-chilling kind of cold. If you’re heading to a local diner or taking the dog for a quick walk at Bethpage State Park, layer up.
What to do now:
Check your windshield washer fluid today. There's nothing worse than driving behind a salt spreader on the Northern State with a dry reservoir. If you have outdoor pets, make sure they have a dry place to hunker down before that 24°F overnight low hits. Clear your walks before sunset; once that 40% snow chance meets the 24-degree nighttime air, that slush becomes a permanent fixture until the next thaw.