'Bomb Cyclone' Bringing Dangerous Weather To the Hudson Valley

As the massive winter storm bearing down on the East Coast undergoes the rapid intensification called bombogenesis, predictions are still tentative about how far west the storm will track into the Hudson Valley. But its dangers are already clear, forecasters warn: power outages in subfreezing temperatures and difficult travel conditions overnight Wednesday through Thursday.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for southern Westchester and a Wind Chill Watch for Dutchess and Ulster counties.

The farther west the storm swings on its way to eastern New England, the more likely that parts of the Hudson Valley will experience heavier snowfall.

AccuWeather meteorologists predict only a glancing blow at the Hudson Valley.

"Motorists and pedestrians should expect at least some blowing and drifting snow as far west as the Hudson Valley of New York, much of New Jersey, the Delmarva Peninsula and even a few areas just inland of the coast in the Southeast states," Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist, said Wednesday morning.

Hudson Valley Weather predicts 3-6 inches of snow will fall east of the Hudson River in Westchester and Putnam counties, with lessening amounts north and east.

But that's not what has Alex Marra calling this storm "dangerous."

"This storm will produce winds in excess of 100MPH over the Atlantic and gusts that high possible in extreme eastern New England," he wrote on Hudson Valley Weather, "winds across our region may reach 30-50 mph based again on how close the storm tracks to our region. This will create dangerous wind chills, blowing snow, reduced visibilities and the biggest concern — power outages. Temps in the wake of this system will again crash to near or below record levels. Any loss of power in these temps would be dangerous and precautions for that possibility should be taken."

The storm is being called a 'bomb cyclone' by meteorologists because the atmospheric pressure is dropping as low and as fast as hurricanes.

The National Weather Service's Wind Chill Watch for Western Greene, Eastern Columbia, Western Ulster and Eastern Dutchess Counties:

Dangerously cold wind chills possible. Dangerously cold wind chills as low as 30 below zero will cause frostbite in as little as 10 minutes to exposed skin. Wind chills could range from 15 below zero to 30 below zero with the lowest readings Friday night into Saturday morning.

The NWS Winter Storm Watch for southern Westchester, New York City, Nassau County and southwestern Connecticut:

WHAT...Heavy snow and blowing snow possible. Plan on difficult travel conditions, including during the morning commute on Thursday. Total snow accumulations of 3 to 6 inches are likely, with higher amounts in excess of 6 inches possible.

WHEN...From late tonight through Thursday evening.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Winds gusting as high as 35 to 45 mph will cause areas of blowing and drifting snow. A few tree limbs and power lines may be downed, causing scattered power outages.

MAP: AccuWeather.com