Hudson Valley Storm: High Winds, Flash Floods Sunday

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Don’t be fooled by the lack of rain or the light amount that is falling across the Hudson Valley Sunday. According to Hudson Valley Weather, the worst is yet to come. As of midday, HVW’s Bill Potter said that rain is filling the radar from south to north.

Light rain will give way to heavier and more numerous rain showers, which will, in turn, become periods of steady rain during the later afternoon and into the evening, Potter said.

From Hudson Valley Weather’s Facebook page:

*Heavy Rain*

(Timing the worst : 6pm to 12am)

The period of heaviest rain is on track to be from 6pm to midnight. From now until 6pm, a half inch of rain is possible for most places. During the period from 6pm to 12am, additional rainfall of 1 to 3 inches is possible... in just a 6 hour period! That's when the flash flooding concerns will peak, with torrential rainfall expected across the ENTIRE region.

*Strong Winds*

(Timing the worst: 9pm to 3am)

The entire HV will see wind gusts between 20mph and 40mph through the evening hours. However, when the storm makes landfall and pushes west of NYC, damaging wind gusts are likely for areas to the east of the center. We highlighted this earlier, but from 9pm to 3am... more specifically as we approach midnight, wind gusts over 50mph are possible east of the Hudson River. The closer you get to the NY/CT border, gusts upward of 60 or 70mph are possible! This is enough to cause power outages and down trees and power lines.

The following watches and warnings are in effect, according to the National Weather Service:

• High Wind Warning: Columbia, Dutchess and eastern Ulster counties; 6 p.m. Sunday to 6 p.m. Monday
• Flash Flood Watch: Columbia, Dutchess and Ulster counties; 2 p.m. Sunday through Monday morning.
• High Wind Watch: Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties; 6 p.m. Sunday through late Sunday night.
• Flash Flood Watch: Orange, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties; noon Sunday to late Sunday night.
• Coastal Flood Advisory: Southern Westchester County; 4 p.m. Sunday to 9 a.m. Monday.

Both the high wind warning and high wind watch call for 25 to 35 mph winds with gusts up to 65 mph. Winds will shift from a southerly direction to the west tonight.

Maps: AccuWeather.com.