UPDATE: LIE Re-Opens At 8:00 a.m.

Update: The Long Island Expressway re-opened at 8:00 a.m., according to the Suffolk County Police Department. 

Original Story
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday declared a state of emergency in New York and said he will close the Long Island Expressway in Nassau and Suffolk counties from midnight until 5 a.m. Friday.

"Statewide state of emergency declared --> stay off the roads if you can #blizzard #StormWatch #NYS," Cuomo posted on his Twitter account.

The governor also plans to close portions of the New York Thruway and I-84 ahead of a harsh blizzard that is set to hit the Northeast.

Heavy snow is expected to hit long Island by 6 p.m.

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