Snow Estimates For 2 Storms; Ice A Big Threat To Hudson Valley

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Forecasters are tracking two storms: one which will likely leave behind some snow and cause a disruption to the Friday morning commute, and another that will make the weekend a snowy, icy mess. The National Weather Service warns of hazardous weather for all of southeastern New York.

SEE: Storm Watches Issued For Parts Of Hudson Valley

Depending on which communities get all snow, or snow plus sleet, or snow plus sleet plus rain, the second storm is expected to make travel hazardous Saturday night into Monday. It also threatens power outages, as heavy ice coats snowy trees and power lines. That's because the storm will include a flash freeze Sunday afternoon.

Plus plummeting temperatures Sunday night will lead to dangerous wind chills that may exceed -20°, says Hudson Valley Weather.

Lengthy power outages could lead to pipe bursts, especially on exterior walls or those that are improperly insulated, warned AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.

It all starts Thursday night with snow showers expected to begin around 10 p.m. Dutchess, Orange and Westchester County can expect about an inch, while Rockland and Putnam can expect 1-3 inches to accumulate Friday.

In some places the first storm could end as light rain.

It should make for a slick morning commute Friday.

Think of Friday's little snow as the appetizer before the weekend's main course.

"Snow will fall heavy at times Saturday evening into the overnight, snowfall rates of 1-3″ per hour are likely," said Alex Marra and Bill Potter of Hudson Valley Weather. "Thunder snow cannot be ruled out as deep convection pushes into the colder air. A battle ground between all snow, snow and sleet, and freezing rain will occur through our forecast region."

Hudson Valley Weather's early snow estimates: Where the storm stays all snow, residents could see 1-2 feet; if it mixes with sleet, from 5-16 inches accumulation; and even where it changes to rain, 3-6 inches of snow are possible, they said.

But, they warned, "The impacts of this are very large, the difference of less than 100 miles will mean everything."

They promised to narrow the forecast down over the next 24 hours.

Image via AccuWeather.com

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