HV Snow Totals Revised Upward For Weekend Storm

Editor's Note: See also Friday afternoon's post Winter Storm Warning Issued For Much Of The Hudson Valley

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — The Hudson Valley could receive a foot of snow Saturday and Sunday, plus there's another big storm headed at us next week.

Snow should start moving over the region southwest to northeast Saturday afternoon to evening, while "the end time is very much in question," Bill Potter of Hudson Valley Weather said in a winter storm video on Facebook.

The National Weather Service's winter storm watch for Dutchess and Ulster counties, updated Friday morning, said snow accumulations of 6 to 12 inches are possible. Snowfall rates could be close to one inch per hour at times for late Saturday night into early Sunday morning.

The winter storm watch updated Friday morning for Orange, Rockland, Putnam and northern Westchester counties said that total snow accumulations of 5 to 10 inches were possible.

For southern Westchester, a mix of rain and snow is expected, with some light accumulation of wet snow. Widespread minor coastal flooding with the Sunday morning high tide is possible along Long Island Sound.

In its briefing at 4:46 a.m. Friday, the NWS called 12-14 inches a "reasonable worst case" for this storm, highest for the interior lower Hudson Valley, while along and just north of I-95 in the lower Hudson Valley and coastal Connecticut, 3 to 6 inches of snow are likely, up to 8 inches as a reasonable worst case.

Hudson Valley Weather's prediction is slightly more conservative, specially about Sunday's snow totals, Potter said. "We're still seeing enough uncertainty with the details that we want to hedge our bets."

The National Weather Service included a graphic about the forecast uncertainty in its morning briefing:

Travel could be very difficult.

"As the storm gains strength and moisture from the Atlantic, it will begin to unload snow at a heavy and steady rate from northeastern Pennsylvania to the middle and lower part of the Hudson Valley to central and southern New England," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Alyssa Glenn. "Hourly snowfall rates in this zone may exceed an inch per hour, which can overwhelm city and highway departments. Motorists on the roads during the height of the storm may be at risk for becoming stuck or stranded."

Temperatures will be colder, falling into the upper 20s Saturday night.

Winds could gust as high as 35 mph, the National Weather Service said.

The region will dig out just in time to face another, bigger storm.

"We have to start preparing for a nasty event that arrives later Tuesday and stays with us through early Wednesday evening. It’s going to be a problem for all of us," Bruce Furbeck of First Due Weather said on Facebook. "It may start briefly as snow and freezing rain. Ultimately, It’s going to deliver anywhere from 2” to 4” of rainfall."

He warned residents to clear their catch basins after Sunday's snow.

It's part of what AccuWeather called "a significant change in the weather pattern."

"Large winter-style storms were scarce during the final weeks of 2023, but the new year has breathed new life into the weather, with one storm after another lining up over the Pacific," said Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist. "With the various storms hitting one area hard one day and another the next, airline passengers may face flight delays and cancellations as crews and aircraft are displaced."

The six-day forecast, based on New City:

• Friday - Sunny, with a high near 37. Wind chill values between 15 and 25. Northwest wind around 8 mph.
• Tonight - Partly cloudy, with a low around 23. West wind 3 to 5 mph.
• Saturday - A 40 percent chance of snow after 2pm. Cloudy, with a high near 36. Wind chill values between 25 and 30. Calm wind becoming east 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.
• Saturday Night - Snow, possibly mixed with rain before 11pm, then snow between 11pm and 2am, then rain and snow after 2am. The snow could be heavy at times. Steady temperature around 33. Wind chill values between 20 and 25. East wind 8 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches possible.
• Sunday - Rain and snow, becoming all snow after 8am. High near 34. Northeast wind 8 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.
• Sunday Night - A 50 percent chance of snow before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 26.
• Monday - Sunny, with a high near 39.
• Monday Night - Partly cloudy, with a low around 21.
• Tuesday - Rain after 2pm. High near 45. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
• Tuesday Night - Rain. The rain could be heavy at times. Low around 40. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
• Wednesday - Rain. The rain could be heavy at times. High near 52. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Here's the next 48 hours at a glance: