Hazardous Hudson Valley Holiday Week: Storms, Heat, Coastal Flooding

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Looks as if "unsettled" could be an understatement for this week's weather in the region. The National Weather Service has issued a coastal flood advisory and hazardous outlooks — one of which stretches out a whole week.

There's also an air quality advisory for Monday, due to high levels of ozone.

According to the hazardous outlooks issued by the National Weather Service, for Monday afternoon and evening, there is a chance of thunderstorms from the Sound Shore to the Mid-Hudson, and some could be severe. Strong winds are the main threat. Heavy rainfall could produce areas of mainly minor flooding.

"Storms may turn intense across a wide swath of the region, extending from western Massachusetts into Mississippi and Alabama," said Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist. "There have been over 1000 incidents of damaging winds alone from severe weather spanning Thursday through Sunday according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). As more days of severe weather get underway, this number will only continue to grow."

Plus, for southern Westchester, up to one-half-foot of inundation above ground level is expected in vulnerable areas near the waterfront and shoreline from Monday evening through late night and a coastal flood advisory has been issued.

On Independence Day, showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop Tuesday afternoon and evening across the region. There is the potential for a few of the storms to become strong to severe. Heavy rainfall could produce areas of mainly minor flooding, although there is a slightly higher risk for flash flooding due to the potential for relatively slow moving storms.

Still, there is hopeful news for the Fourth of July, according to the folks at Hudson Valley Weather.

"The showers and thunderstorms today look to continue on and off right through to tomorrow and good news is, looks to possibly end around the 6pm/7pm area Tuesday night," said Todd Snow on the HVW Facebook page. "This would be good news because any fireworks shows can go on as planned and the risk for wildfires would be super low as most of the HVW area has received some sort of rain."

Then, for southern Westchester, the coastal flood advisory says additional rounds of brief minor flooding are possible with the evening high tide cycle through midweek.

For Dutchess and Ulster counties, the hazardous outlook stretches to Sunday. The NWS says heat indices may reach the mid to upper 90s Wednesday and Thursday during the afternoon hours, and a heat advisory may become necessary for the Mid-Hudson. Friday through Sunday, there is a chance of thunderstorms, mainly during the afternoon and evening hours. A few instances of damaging wind gusts and large hail will be possible. Thunderstorms with locally heavy downpours are expected elsewhere, and isolated to scattered flash flooding will be possible.

Here's the next 48 hours at a glance:

Some good news for the Hudson Valley is that smoke from the Canadian wildfires is drifting northeast according to firesmoke.ca, and their forecast doesn't show the plume headed back our way this week. The bad news is that there are 585 fires, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center, with 37 new ones reported Monday.

The ozone advisory will be in effect 11 a.m. through 11 p.m.

Summer heat can lead to the formation of ground-level ozone, a major component of photochemical smog. Automobile exhaust and out-of-state emission sources are the primary sources of ground-level ozone and are the most serious air pollution problems in the northeast. This surface pollutant should not be confused with the protective layer of ozone in the upper atmosphere.

People, especially young children, those who exercise outdoors, those involved in vigorous outdoor work and those who have respiratory disease (such as asthma) should consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity when ozone levels are the highest (generally afternoon to early evening). When outdoor levels of ozone are elevated, going indoors will usually reduce your exposure. Individuals experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain or coughing should consider consulting their doctor.

Ozone levels generally decrease at night and can be minimized during daylight hours by curtailment of automobile travel and the use of public transportation where available.

New Yorkers also are urged to take the following energy-saving and pollution-reducing steps:

• use mass transit or carpool instead of driving, as automobile emissions account for about 60 percent of pollution in our cities;
• conserve fuel and reduce exhaust emissions by combining necessary motor vehicle trips;
• turn off all lights and electrical appliances in unoccupied areas;
• use fans to circulate air. If air conditioning is necessary, set thermostats at 78 degrees;
• close the blinds and shades to limit heat build-up and to preserve cooled air;
• limit use of household appliances. If necessary, run the appliances at off-peak (after 7 p.m.) hours. These would include dishwashers, dryers, pool pumps and water heaters;
• set refrigerators and freezers at more efficient temperatures;
• purchase and install energy efficient lighting and appliances with the Energy Star label; and
• reduce or eliminate outdoor burning and attempt to minimize indoor sources of PM 2.5 such as smoking.