Winter Weather — Suffolk, New York

1996-12-31 · near Countywide, Suffolk, New York

Wider weather episode

A mixture of light freezing rain, sleet, and snow coated all major highways during the afternoon and evening of December 31st, 1996. Roads quickly became treacherous. Numerous accidents occurred. A six car pile-up resulted in injuries on the Belt Parkway in kings County. A fifteen car pile-up resulted in injuries on the Grand Central Parkway in Queens. One fatality occurred in a two-car accident in Dix Hills on Northern State Parkway in Suffolk County at about 6:45 pm. One driver lost control of her vehicle on icy roads and collided with a van.The timing (New Year's Eve) and type of mixed freezing precipitation proved to be a deadly combination.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5582611. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.