Weather Update: LIPA Outages Decrease, LIRR Service Remains Suspended

The blizzard that blanketed Long Island last night into the early hours of the morning has caused Long Island Power Authority customers to experience outages and forced the Long Island Railroad to suspend service.

There are approximately 300 LIPA customers throughout Smithtown, Nesconset, St. James and Head of the Harbor still experiencing outages as of 1:15 p.m., according to the LIPA Web site.

As of 1:30 p.m., LIPA is reporting that 7,762 customers throughout Long Island are experiencing outages, 5,979 of them in Suffolk County.

Last night approximately 1,070 local LIPA customers experienced outages with 12,021 customers affected throughout Long Island, 9,439 of them in Suffolk County.

In an email Sunday night, LIPA Director of Communications Mark Gross said there is no time frame for the outages to be repaired. Gross also said customers experiencing outages can call 1-800-490-0075 to receive power restoration updates.

The weather conditions have kept the LIRR service suspended in both directions as well, according to the MTA Web site.

"Due to the extreme nature of the ongoing blizzard, including high winds and major snow drifts, the MTA is urging its customers to stay home this morning if at all possible," the MTA stated on its Web site.

Last night the National Weather Service for Long Island issued a blizzard warning that is still in effect until 6 p.m. Monday.

The Smithtown Post Office has suspended mail service for Monday and will have normal service tomorrow. The Smithtown Special Library District has closed all library branches for Monday.

Update: The Town of Smithtown Superintendent of Highways Glenn Jorgensen said all major roadways are clear and ready for drivers, and the town is currently finishing up the plowing by clearing dead end streets. One section of road still being worked on is between the Smithtown bull on Route 25 and Old Willits Path, where a tree is down, which took down some electrical wires with it.

"[Route] 25 was closed all night from the bull all the way west to Old Willits Path, there as a tree down that took down some wires and a pole and that road is still closed," Jorgensen said. "It closed about 8 p.m. last night and we're waiting for LIPA to de-energize the wires and so we can get rid of the tree."