Police Chief: Use 'Extreme Caution' On Riverhead Roads

Monday's icy rain, which fell after a weekend when Riverhead got pummeled with over two feet of snow in some areas, made for a mess out on the roads.

On Monday afternoon, Riverhead Police Chief David Hegermiller said "ponding" has occurred on area roads. "The water has nowhere to go."

One hazard, Hegermiller said, is that some roads are half covered with ice, half covered with water. "It's almost like going through a sea of potholes because the ice is so thick," he said.

Plowing continued on Monday, Hegermiller said, with Riverhead's main roads in "pretty good shape," he said. Secondary roads, he added, still pose challenges.

"Reduce speed and drive with caution," Hegermiller said.

Despite Monday's rain, Hegermiller said only minor flooding has been reported; ponding remained the major concern.

And, as temperatures drop Monday night, Hegermiller said icy roads could pose problematic.

Residents, he said, should watch the weather and take note of the temperature. "That's our biggest concern," he said.

Motorists should limit driving while town plows are still out trying to remove the ice from the roads, Hegermiller said.