Polar Vortex Pushes Thunderstorms, Hail, Flurries: HV Weekend

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Mild and breezy starts the weekend off, but then we descend into a springy mix: cold and breezy, showers and thunderstorms (some with hail), followed by sprinkles and snow flurries.

SEE: Is NY Done With Snow For The Season?

We're not going to need to shovel: that's saved for poor Buffalo.

But it's going to be cold.

"Old Man Winter and his buddy, the polar vortex, are not quite done with the region just yet," said Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist. "A piece of the polar vortex will set up shop over southeastern Canada this weekend. In this position, cold air will be funneled southward."

We could see temperatures 10-20 degrees Fahrenheit below average, he said.

Look at how the temps drop:

• Friday Afternoon - high near 60. West wind 6 to 8 mph.
• Friday night - low around 40. West wind 5 to 7 mph.
• Saturday - high near 53. Southwest wind 3 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
• Saturday Night - low around 36. West wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Sunday - high near 46. Northwest wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
• Sunday Night - low around 23.
• Monday - high near 33.

The National Weather Service predicts scattered rain and thunderstorms across the lower and mid-Hudson Valley on Saturday afternoon and evening.

Over Orange, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties, some thunderstorms could produce small hail, the NWS said.

Then, in the lower Hudson Valley on Sunday, afternoon showers could turn to flurries extending into the evening and overnight.

Here's another look at the weekend based on Putnam County: