Winter Storm Damon Hits New York

Winter Storm Damon arrived in the Hudson Valley Tuesday, pushing a steady mix of wind and cold rain that’s flooding coastal and inland areas and making for unpleasant travel.

No snow for Rockland, Putnam or Westchester counties, says Hudson Valley Weather, though the Catskills could get 6-14 inches.

However, the National Weather Service extended its flood watch until 1 a.m. Dec. 10 for Rockland County and the county government put a Weather Alert up on its website.

Some small streams in the lower Hudson Valley and northern New Jersey could overflow their banks, specially since the region already received 1-2 inches of rain in the past week, the NWS said.

The rain is heavy enough in southern Westchester County to flood the Bronx River Parkway at Exit 4. The New York State Transportation Department said at 10 a.m. it could be closed for up to eight hours.

The New York State Police from Troop K, covering Putnam, Westchester, Dutchess and Columbia counties, would like to remind motorists to exercise due care when traveling the roadways: “A wintery mix is expected to continue throughout the day making all roadways slick and unpredictable. Allow adjustments to your schedule to ensure safe travel or simply avoid unnecessary travel.”

About 4.3 million people are under winter storm warnings since the nor’easter is expected to dump two feet of snow in western New York, 18 inches in New Hampshire and 6 inches in northern New Jersey, according to The Weather Channel.

As much as two inches of rain will fall on the New York City, Philadelphia and Boston metropolitan areas, compelling the National Weather Service to issue flood and wind watches for the coastal areas.

The storm will slowly churn up the coast, dumping rain and wet snow that will be ”heavy enough to bring down the trees and power lines,” said Ari Sarsalari, a meteorologist onThe Weather Channel. The Weather Channel reported that areas hard-hit by Superstorm Sandy two years ago could be among “the first to face Damon’s fury,” since Tuesday morning’s high tide could bring significant coastal flooding.