High Winds, Heavy Rain, Minor Flooding: Storm Headed To Hudson Valley

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — A strong storm from the southwest will move across the region during the late Sunday to early Monday timeframe, potentially leading to strong, gusty winds and a period of heavy rain after unseasonably warm temperatures all weekend.

The National Weather Service updated its hazardous outlook for Dutchess and Ulster counties, saying ponding of water on roadways and standing water in low-lying areas is possible along with river rises approaching or reaching minor flood stage. There is also a chance that rain may end as a period of accumulating snow Monday morning.

"Again as with past events, all of our highest elevations have the possibility to observe some snowfall before it ends," Bruce Furbeck of First Due Weather said on Facebook.

The lower Hudson Valley could get more than 2 inches of rain.

That could cause some minor urban and poor drainage flooding, with isolated flash flooding possible, the NWS said. There is potential for minor flooding along quick responding small rivers, streams and creeks of the lower Hudson Valley as well.

Winds will be screaming on Sunday and Sunday night a couple thousand feet above the ground, AccuWeather Meteorologist Grady Gilman said. "High winds in the lower part of the atmosphere may be dragged down to ground and sea surface level in the form of powerful gusts ranging from 40-60 mph along the Interstate-95 zone from Sunday afternoon to Sunday night."

Wind advisories may be needed in some areas if confidence increases for winds of 50 mph or greater, especially in higher elevations.

Widespread minor to locally moderate coastal flooding is possible for vulnerable communities along coastal Westchester County and southwestern Connecticut with Monday morning's high tide.

If the storm moves more slowly than expected, there's a greater chance of urban and small stream flash flooding, the NWS said. In addition, the threat for moderate coastal flooding would increase as onshore winds linger till the time of high tide.

This will all be happening as temperatures are unseasonably high for a second day — around 60 degrees in Putnam, Rockland and Westchester — only to plummet as a cold front moves in behind the storm.

"Temps drop very rapidly for the higher terrain from 12am Monday morning to noon time and there’s a chance of black ice forming on wet surfaces," Todd Snow of Hudson Valley Weather warned on Facebook.

Here's the 5-day forecast based on northern Westchester:

• Friday - Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 40s. Light and variable winds, becoming south around 5 mph this afternoon.
• Tonight - Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy. Patchy fog after midnight. Lows in the lower 30s. Light and variable winds.
• Saturday - Patchy fog in the morning. Mostly cloudy. Highs in the lower 50s. Southeast winds around 5 mph.
• Saturday Night - Mostly cloudy. A slight chance of showers after midnight. Lows in the upper 30s. South winds around 5 mph in the evening, becoming light and variable. Chance of rain 20 percent.
• Sunday - Showers. Highs around 60. South winds 5 to 10 mph, increasing to 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph in the afternoon. Chance of rain 90 percent.
• Sunday Night - Showers. Locally heavy rainfall possible after midnight. Breezy with lows in the lower 40s. Chance of rain near 100 percent.
• Monday - Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers in the morning, then mostly sunny in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 40s. Chance of rain 50 percent.
• Monday Night - Mostly clear. Cooler with lows in the upper 20s.
• Tuesday - Sunny. Highs in the lower 40s.
• Tuesday Night - Mostly clear in the evening, then becoming partly cloudy. Lows around 30.