More Cold, More Chances For Snow: Hudson Valley Forecast

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Snow is in the forecast, albeit tentatively, for three of the next five days.

First, the cold. Temperatures will drop all day and only crawl back as far as the 20s on Saturday, the first of our small snow events.

The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous outlook for Dutchess and Ulster counties. Along with the cold, winds will gust 30 to 45 mph. A few downed limbs and isolated power outages can't be ruled out. A light accumulation of snow is expected on Saturday afternoon. Locally slick travel is possible.

"The best chance for snowfall exceeding an inch is across the higher terrain of the Catskills," said Alex Marra of Hudson Valley Weather on Facebook.

A storm system is headed our way Monday, but the folks at HVW warned the pattern seen all winter looks to hold true Monday night and Tuesday — an influx of warm air could change the snow rapidly to ice and rain.

The National Weather Service was more optimistic, at least for the mid-Hudson.

"There is fairly high confidence in a moderate to heavy snowfall impacting the region during this time. Some mixing with rain or a wintry mix is possible for parts of the area as well."

Meanwhile, the snow drought continues. New York City has received 0.4 inches of snow so far this winter, compared to the historical average of 22.2 inches, and Hartford, Connecticut has received 9.9 inches, compared to the historic average of 3.79 inches, AccuWeather reported. New York State officials say due to the lack of snow the dry, dormant vegetation is primed to burn. SEE: 3-Acre Brush Fire In Mahopac Spurs Wildfire Warning

Here's the five-day forecast from the NWS for Putnam County:

• Friday - Mostly sunny and breezy. Highs in the mid 30s. Northwest winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.
• Tonight - Mostly clear. Much cooler with lows around 12. North winds 10 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph in the evening.
• Saturday - Cloudy with a 30 percent chance of snow showers. Cold with highs in the upper 20s. Northeast winds around 5 mph, becoming south in the afternoon.
• Saturday Night - Mostly cloudy in the evening, then becoming partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 20s. South winds around 5 mph.
• Sunday - Partly sunny. Not as cool with highs in the mid 40s. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
• Sunday Night - Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming mostly clear. Lows in the mid 20s.
• Monday - Partly sunny. A chance of rain and snow in the afternoon. Highs around 40. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.
• Monday Night - Snow. Lows in the upper 20s. Chance of snow near 100 percent.
• Tuesday - Rain and snow likely. Highs in the upper 30s. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.
• Tuesday Night - Mostly cloudy in the evening, then clearing. Lows in the mid 20s.