Cold Christmas Eve; 5,825 Still Without Power In The Hudson Valley

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — The National Weather Service has released localized wind and rain reports on the massive storm that downed trees and power lines across the region, leaving 6,000 of our neighbors still without electricity for another day — a frigid Christmas Eve.

At the height of the gusty winds overnight Thursday, more than 20,000 utility customers lost power in the Hudson Valley. As of 9:30 a.m. Saturday:

Ulster County

• Cen Hud reported 624 customers without power

Dutchess

• Cen Hud 119
• NYSEG 650

Orange

• Cen Hud 14
• NYSEG 1
• O&R 6

Putnam

• NYSEG - 1,442, most in Carmel

Rockland

• O&R 96

Westchester

• Con Ed 15
• NYSEG 3,482 - most in Lewisboro and Somers

NYSEG officials said they expect all service to be restored by 11 p.m. Saturday, Putnam County officials said.

Meanwhile, for Putnam County residents without power, the Knights of Columbus on Fair Street in Carmel opened a warming center for the second day.

In Somers, the shelter at the Heritage Hills Activity Center, 8 Heritage Hills Drive, will be open until power is restored. If you are in need of transportation to the shelter, call 914-277-3651 and a Somers Town Police Officer will help you.

Many in Lewisboro should have power back by 11 p.m. also, NYSEG said; however, damage and repair are still being assessed in some neighborhoods.

What caused it all?

The National Weather Service issued wind and rain reports for communities in the lower Hudson Valley. The most rain was dumped on parts of Rockland County. The heavy rain and storm surge flooded low-lying areas inland as well as on the Hudson River and the Long Island Sound.

Wind gusts

Orange County

• STEWART AIRPORT 45 MPH
• WARWICK 44
• MONTGOMERY AIRPORT 41
• OTISVILLE 40

Putnam

• BREWSTER 44 MPH
• PUTNAM VALLEY 40

Westchester

• SOMERS 52 MPH
• HARRISON 51
• TAPPAN ZEE LIGHT 14 48
• NEW ROCHELLE 41

Rain totals

Orange County

• VAILS GATE 1.94 inches
• WEST POINT 1.79
• WARWICK 1.67
• 2.6 NW TUXEDO PARK 1.64
• MIDDLETOWN 1.57
• 2.6 NW TUXEDO PARK 1.56
• OTISVILLE 1.40
• 0.8 N PORT JERVIS 1.34
• WALDEN 1.19
• MONTGOMERY 1.13
• MONTGOMERY AIRPORT 1.09

Putnam

• PUTNAM VALLEY 2.52 inches
• COLD SPRING 2.48
• MAHOPAC 1.91
• BREWSTER 1.85

Rockland

• 0.9 miles north of MONTEBELLO 2.95 inches
• SPRING VALLEY 2.93
• SUFFERN 2.90
• STONY POINT 2.75
• SPARKILL 2.69
• NANUET 2.29
• MONTEBELLO 2.22
• BLAUVELT 2.08
• POMONA 1.56
• POMONA 1.55
• BARDONIA 1.53
• NEW CITY 1.51
• NEW CITY 1.49

Westchester

• OSSINING 2.36 inches
• TARRYTOWN 2.23
• PEEKSKILL 2.11
• MOUNT KISCO 1.96
• SOMERS 1.94
• YORKTOWN HEIGHTS 1.94
• BRIARCLIFF MANOR 1.75
• KATONAH 1.71
• WHITE PLAINS AIRPORT 0.92

The cold will continue into next week.

"One of the coldest Christmas Eves in recent memory and not a great day to be outside, especially in an open sleigh, at cruising altitude traveling at 1000’s of miles per hour!" said Alex Marra of Hudson Valley Weather.

Here's the daily forecast through the holiday weekend from the national Weather Service, based on western Dutchess County:

• Saturday - Mostly sunny. Much colder with highs around 19. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Wind chill values as low as 12 below this morning.
• Tonight - Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming mostly clear. Cold with lows around 7 above. Southwest winds around 10 mph. Wind chill values as low as 4 below after midnight.
• Christmas Day - Sunny, cold with highs in the upper 20s. Southwest winds around 10 mph. Wind chill values as low as 6 below in the morning.
• Sunday Night - Mostly clear. Cold with lows around 13. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
• Monday - Sunny in the morning, then becoming partly sunny. Cold with highs in the upper 20s. Southwest winds around 5 mph.
• Monday Night - Mostly cloudy. Cold with lows around 20.
• Tuesday - Mostly sunny. Cold with highs in the lower 30s.