Tie Down Those Decorations: Rain, Wind To End Hudson Valley Weekend

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — A storm headed our way at the end of the weekend is forecast to bring heavy rain and gusty winds, but little to no snow.

That's because of the balmy weather we'll enjoy first. "Saturday will be a fine day for outdoor activities and travel around New York City, with a high well into the 50s," said Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist. "Temperatures will surge well above the historical average for early December."

Then a storm from the southwest will strengthen as it hits the East Coast, with a trailing cold front that will generate strong winds.

"Winds will be screaming a couple thousand feet up from the ground on Sunday and Sunday night along the Atlantic coast," Sosnowski said. Strong southerly winds can lead to flooding along south-facing exposed beach communities as well as the locations along inland bays.

The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous outlook for Dutchess and Ulster counties for late Sunday to early Monday, predicting strong, gusty winds and a period of heavy rain.

"Sunday night, winds will be the worst and likely peak in excess of 40 MPH over our area. Bands of heavy rain and even possibilities for thunderstorms are likely during Sunday night," Orange County meteorologist Bruce Furbeck of First Due Weather said on Facebook. "With the possibility for a long duration of extremely gusty winds during Sunday night and early Monday accompanied with a saturated ground there could be power outages. Outside Holiday decorations may be decimated."

Here's the five-day forecast based on northern Westchester:

• Thursday - Partly sunny this morning, then becoming mostly cloudy. A slight chance of snow showers this morning, then a chance of snow showers this afternoon. Highs in the upper 30s. West winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 30 percent.
• Tonight - Mostly cloudy in the evening, then becoming partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s. Northwest winds around 5 mph.
• Friday - Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 40s. Light and variable winds, becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
• Friday Night - Mostly clear in the evening, then becoming partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 30s. Southeast winds around 5 mph in the evening, becoming light and variable.
• Saturday - Partly sunny. Highs in the lower 50s. Southeast winds around 5 mph.
• Saturday Night - Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 30s.
• Sunday - Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the morning, then showers in the afternoon. Breezy with highs in the upper 50s. Chance of rain 90 percent.
• Sunday Night - Showers, windy with lows in the upper 30s. Chance of rain 90 percent.
• Monday - Partly sunny. A chance of showers in the morning. Breezy with highs in the mid 40s. Chance of rain 30 percent.
• Monday Night - Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 20s.