Snow, Rain, Polar Vortex: Ossining's Work Week

CROTON-ON-HUDSON, NY — An unusual arctic blast that will keep us freezing all week will push snow into the region Tuesday. However, a low pressure system off the coast may keep precipitation in the lower Hudson Valley mostly rain.

The National Weather Service sees is the potential for 2 to 5 inches of snow across northern and western potions of the Lower Hudson Valley, 1 to 2 across the remainder of the interior, and an inch or less at the coast.

"This type of arctic front… and the air mass behind it… is not one you see all that often," said Alex Marra and Bill Potter of Hudson Valley Weather. "Latest guidance suggests that anyone from roughly I-84 on south has the best chance of mixing with and changing to rain. The warm air is all at the surface with this system… meaning freezing rain and sleet should not be an issue. The question is either snow… or rain. We’ll have to watch the exact position of this system in the next 24 to 36 hours."

The National Weather Service forecasts that rain at midday could change back to snow Tuesday night.

The arctic blast that greeted us Monday morning is the precursor to the polar vortex which is swooping down on the Midwest then coming east at midweek.

"Thursday can rival the cold blast from earlier last week as the harshest so far this winter along the Northeast’s I-95 corridor. The day can start with lows in the single digits from Boston to New York City to Baltimore with highs only in the teens or lower 20s," said Kyle Elliott, AccuWeather meteorologist.

That's going to keep it really, really cold through the end of January. Yes, the end of January.

Here's what the National Weather Service forecasts for the work week in Ossining.

• Monday-Sunny, with a high near 32. Wind chill values between 20 and 25. North wind 5 to 8 mph.
• Monday night-Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming light and variable.
• Tuesday-A chance of snow before noon, then rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 42. Wind chill values between 20 and 30. Southeast wind 6 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
• Tuesday Night-Rain before 9pm, then rain and snow between 9pm and midnight, then snow likely after midnight. Low around 22. Wind chill values between 15 and 20. Southeast wind 7 to 13 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
• Wednesday-A chance of snow before 7am, then scattered snow showers after 11am. Increasing clouds, with a temperature falling to around 17 by 5pm. Breezy, with a west wind 9 to 14 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
• Wednesday Night-Mostly clear, with a low around -1.
• Thursday-Sunny and cold, with a high near 14.
• Thursday Night-Mostly clear, with a low around 4.
• Friday-Partly sunny, with a high near 24.
• Friday Night-Partly cloudy, with a low around 11.

Image via AccuWeather.com