Snow In The Forecast: Spring Arrives In The Hudson Valley

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Temperatures will dip into the 20s Wednesday night and there are two chances for snow in the forecast. Welcome to spring 2024!

"Much colder air moves in Tuesday, with highs near 40° expected, and wind chills in the 20s and 30s. A much colder week coming up, than what we just experienced," the folks at Hudson Valley Weather said on Facebook.

After a warm and sunny weekend that encouraged young leaves, buds and blossoms, freezing temperatures could cause damage, said Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist.

There are two chances for snow this week: first from an Alberta Clipper and attached cold front between Tuesday evening and Wednesday night, and second overnight Friday.

Precipitation at the end of the work week could be snow and rain, all rain, or nothing — it's still too early to call, local forecasters said.

"Ultimately it looks like any snowfall would likely lean toward a minor event, 1”-3” of snowfall with a potential changeover to ice and rain," Bruce Furbeck from First Due Weather said on Facebook.

The vernal equinox for 2024 will occur at 11:06 p.m. Tuesday. That's when the sun's rays pass directly over the Equator at noon local time. Peepers and salamanders are already in the Hudson Valley's many vernal pools, as the volunteers who try to protect them when they cross local roads can attest.

That's because it's been warmer than average.

"From the first official day of winter, Dec. 21, through Saturday, March 16, temperatures have been well above the historical average throughout the Midwest and Northeast," Sosnowski said, citing departures from normal of 5.3 degrees in New York City, 10.9 degrees in Minneapolis, 4.2 degrees in Boston and 7.5 degrees in Chicago. "Any temperature departure of 2 degrees or more above average for a season is considered major."

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The region has also received less than its usual amount of snow.

"The percentage of seasonal snowfall to the historical average in the same cities ranged from a mere 24% in Boston to 30% in New York City, 33% in Minneapolis and 62% in Chicago," Sosnowski said.

Here's the National Weather Service's five-day forecast based on western Dutchess:

• Monday - Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 40s. West winds 5 to 10 mph.
• Tonight - Partly cloudy. Cold with lows around 30. West winds 5 to 10 mph.
• Tuesday - Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 40s. West winds 10 to 15 mph.
• Tuesday Night - Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 30s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
• Wednesday - Partly sunny. A chance of snow showers in the morning, then a chance of rain showers in the afternoon. Highs around 50. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph, becoming west around 15 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.
• Wednesday Night - Partly cloudy with a chance of rain and snow showers in the evening, then mostly clear after midnight. Cold with lows in the mid 20s. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.
• Thursday And Thursday Night - Partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 40s. Lows in the lower 20s.
• Friday - Partly sunny in the morning, then becoming mostly cloudy. Highs in the lower 40s.
• Friday Night And Saturday - Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain or snow showers. Lows around 30. Highs in the mid 40s. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.