Hudson Valley Forecast: Snow Could Make Holiday Travel Tricky

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Now that Thanksgiving is behind us, it seems the weather is changing — and possibly making getting home from the holidays a little tricky in parts of the Hudson Valley.

Rainy weather over the region Friday will bring the chance of snow in higher elevations in the northern parts of the Hudson Valley.

That chance, according to the National Weather Service, also brings a hazardous weather outlook Friday for Columbia, Dutchess and Ulster counties.

Meteorologists said snow showers Friday afternoon into the evening could result in a quick coating up to 1 inch of snow resulting in slippery travel conditions. Higher terrain areas in the Taconics could receive 1 to 3 inches of snow. Gusty winds of 30 to 40 mph combined with snow showers could also reduce visibilities. Motorists are encouraged to use caution when traveling.

However, that's not where the possibility of snow ends through the remainder of the Thanksgiving weekend.

People all around the Hudson Valley who are returning from the holiday may find themselves in snowy conditions Sunday.

An Alberta clipper will set the stage for snow by the end of the weekend.

Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist, said the cold weather pattern coming into the Northeast could bring the area's first real snow of the season.

On Sunday afternoon, a storm will likely be causing snow to fall in eastern Pennsylvania, northern New Jersey and New York.

Sosnowkski said marginal temperatures and daylight could help prevent the snow from accumulating — except for higher elevations.

Nonetheless, the National Weather Service is forecasting snow on Sunday into the evening for the mid-Hudson Valley.

The further south you are in the Hudson Valley the chances of snow decrease but still exist through the day Sunday.

Here is the forecast for northern Westchester through the holiday weekend from the National Weather Service:

• Friday: Showers, mainly before noon. Temperature falling to around 36 by 5pm. West wind 9 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
• Friday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 29. Wind chill values between 20 and 25. West wind 13 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.
• Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 38. Wind chill values between 20 and 30. Northwest wind 13 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
• Saturday Night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 26. West wind 5 to 9 mph.
• Sunday: A slight chance of snow showers before 1pm, then a slight chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39. Calm wind becoming west around 6 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28.