Update: Up to a Foot of Snow Possible for East End

An issued by the National Weather Service has been upgraded to a winter storm warning, as heavy snowfall hits the East End.

The original forecast of up to 6 inches has been changed to a possible 8 to 12 inches of snow. The storm warning started at 10 a.m. Wednesday and remains in effect through 6 a.m. Thursday. A mix of snow and sleet is expected Wednesday afternoon and early evening, making for a hazardous commute.

Two to four inches are expected before 1 p.m. Wednesday, as a heavy snow band capable of dropping one to two inches of snow an hour passes through the region. The snow will reduce visibility to less than half a mile, and maybe even less than a quarter of a mile at times, according to the weather service.

The snow is expected to turn into a mix of sleet and rain in the afternoon, and back into a moderate-heavy snow later on Wednesday into the night, making both Wednesday evening and Thursday morning commutes hazardous.

Only travel in an emergency, but if travel is necessary, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in the vehicle, the weather service advises.

In addition to snow, minor coastal flooding is expected along shores on the eastern Long Island Sound between 3:30 and 4:30 a.m. Erosion due to an elevated tide and 2- to 4-foot breaking waves on top of that is a concern for both the North Shore and the north side of the South Fork, the weather service stated.