Blizzard of ’26 – One for the History Books

Mar 2, 2026

1 min

“The blizzard of ‘26 will be remembered in meteorology circles,” Dr. Jase Bernhardt told Newsday about the historic storm this week that dropped approximately 30 inches of snow on parts of Long Island.

The Hofstra University associate professor of geology, environment, and sustainability and director of meteorology explained the blizzard hit what’s known as the “70/40 benchmark."

That’s 40 degrees north latitude and 70 degrees west longitude, geographic coordinates for a spot over the Atlantic Ocean: “That’s the sweet spot,” said Dr. Bernhardt. “Say it tracks 50 miles south and east, that means the heaviest snow shifts farther away. If it tracks closer, oftentimes, it’s bringing in warm air closer to the center [of the storm], and if it tracks too close, it might yield heavy precipitation, but it’s going to be too warm for all snow.”

Connect with:

Jase Bernhardt

Associate Professor of Geology, Environment, and Sustainability

Dr. Bernhardt's current research is focused on using VR technology to teach about dangerous weather conditions.

Rip Tide safetyHurricanesClimatologyClimate ChangeWeather

Find Experts

Apr 1, 2026

1 min

Blakeman’s Campaign May Face Financial Setback

Lawrence Levy, associate vice president and executive dean of the National Center for Suburban Studies, spoke to Newsday about the New York State gubernatorial race and the possibility that Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman may not qualify for the state’s public campaign finance program. Raising enough money to compete with incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul has been Blakeman’s biggest challenge to date, Levy explained. “This would be a near existential blow to whatever relatively slim chances he has based on party enrollment, Hochul’s popularity and her huge lead in cash on hand,” he said.

Mar 24, 2026

1 min

Rip Current Simulations Save Lives

Jase Bernhardt, Hofstra University associate professor of geology, environment, and sustainability and director of meteorology, was referenced in a USA Today article about simulations that teach the public about rip current safety. For years, Dr. Bernhardt has been leading research that offers a virtual reality simulation of being caught in a rip current and teaches ways swimmers can navigate to safety. The development of this technology is supported in part by New York Sea Grant (NYSG).

Mar 18, 2026

1 min

Iran Conflict Intensifies Focus on Affordability

Professor of Finance Anoop Rai spoke to Newsday about economic fallout from the Iran campaign, which is refocusing attention on rising costs at a time when affordability was already a top concern, locally and nationally. If the economy cools down, it could reduce the state’s tax revenues, and any actions lawmakers take to further help with affordability could lead to greater deficits, said Dr. Rai. “Then it becomes more like a philosophy. Do you help now during bad times and then try to recover later, or stick to your principles and say ‘tough luck’?”