Winter Storm Latest: NYC Faces 3 Inches Of Snow An Hour Overnight

NEW YORK CITY – The approaching winter storm is expected to intensify from 7 p.m. Wednesday and dump up to three inches of snow every hour through the night, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo warned.

Up to 24 inches of snow could accumulate just north of the city and a state of disaster emergency could be declared in the Hudson Valley by 6 p.m. Cuomo said. In the city, a foot of snow is likely.

Mayor Bill de Blasio declared that all school buildings will be closed Thursday. Students are expected to attend their classes virtually.

The snow was expected to move into the region before 5 p.m. Temperatures will be below freezing with wind gusts reaching 45 mph. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning at 2 p.m. Wednesday and it will be in place until 1 p.m. Thursday.

"State and local emergency response assets and personnel have been staged throughout the state and are ready to help keep all New Yorkers safe as this powerful system moves through the Northeast," Cuomo said.

Sign up to get Patch news alerts and storm updates to your inbox.

"This is our first major storm of the season and I'm urging the public to stay home this evening and throughout the overnight hours to let our crews do their jobs and clear the roads. Just remember - if you're stuck in traffic, our plows are too."

The snow is expected to taper off around 9 a.m. Thursday with sunshine – and freezing temperatures - following it.

Here's the forecast in more detail, courtesy of the NWS:

This Afternoon
Snow likely, mainly after 4pm. Cloudy, with a high near 33. Wind chill values between 20 and 25. Northeast wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Total daytime snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

Tonight
Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. Low around 29. Wind chill values between 15 and 20. Blustery, with a northeast wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 9 to 13 inches possible.

Thursday
Snow likely, mainly before 9am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a steady temperature around 30. Wind chill values between 15 and 20. Windy, with a north wind 21 to 26 mph decreasing to 14 to 19 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Thursday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22. Wind chill values between 15 and 20. North wind 7 to 10 mph.

Friday
Sunny, with a high near 33. North wind 7 to 9 mph.

Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 21.

Saturday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 34.