Hudson Valley Forecast: Hotter, Hazard Up The River

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Scattered thunderstorms are possible across the Hudson Valley Thursday afternoon and evening, and a hazardous outlook has been issued for Dutchess and Ulster counties.

The greatest hazard in the mid-Hudson is expected to be scattered damaging straight-line winds, although a few instances of large hail and perhaps an isolated tornado are also possible. In addition, locally heavy downpours will be possible.

The mid-Hudson is also expected to be hotter than the southern end of the valley. The combination of warm temperatures and moderate to high humidity levels may allow heat indices to reach 90 to 95 degrees there, the National Weather Service reported.

In Orange, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties, temps are expected to top out in the high 80s, the NWS said.

The heat and the hazardous outlook are just the latest for Ulster County, which has had a lot of wild weather in the past year. On July 13, a storm including a EF1 tornado and a separate macroburst produced widespread wind damage across parts of eastern Ulster County including Kingston, Hurley, Marbletown and the hills just to the north and west of the Esopus Creek. SEE: Tornado, Macroburst Confirmed In Hudson Valley Wednesday

Ulster suffered a crippling ice storm in February and then a damaging windstorm in March.

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The storms aren't expected to bring a lot of rain to the region, and the long, broad line of intense rainfall that has flooded parts of the midwest and south is not expected to make it as far north as the tri-state area, according to AccuWeather. "As dry air pushes eastward portions of the Ohio and mid-Mississippi Valley will dry out. But, the corridor of heavy rain will be shunted southward and is likely to stall this weekend," said Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist.

Here's the 5-day forecast based on Dutchess County from the National Weather Service:

• Thursday afternoon - Partly sunny. A chance of showers and scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. Some thunderstorms may produce gusty winds and heavy rainfall this afternoon. Hot with highs in the lower 90s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.
• Thursday night - Partly cloudy. A chance of showers and scattered thunderstorms in the evening. Patchy fog after midnight. Humid with lows in the mid 60s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph in the evening, becoming light and variable. Chance of rain 40 percent.
• Friday - Partly sunny. Patchy fog in the morning. A chance of showers in the afternoon. Hot with highs in the upper 80s. Southwest winds around 5 mph, increasing to around 10 mph in the afternoon. Chance of rain 40 percent.
• Friday Night - Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers in the evening, then partly cloudy after midnight. Humid with lows in the lower 60s. Northwest winds around 5 mph in the evening, becoming light and variable. Chance of rain 40 percent.
• Saturday - Sunny, hot with highs in the mid 80s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
• Saturday Night And Sunday - Mostly clear. Hot. Lows around 60. Highs in the upper 80s.
• Sunday Night - Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 60s.
• Monday - Sunny, hot with highs around 90.
• Monday Night - Mostly clear in the evening, then becoming partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 60s.