NWS Issues Winter Storm Warnings For The Hudson Valley

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — As the winter storm bringing up to a foot of snow to the region gets closer, the National Weather Service on Sunday afternoon upgraded its advisory to a winter storm warning for most of the region.

"This upgrade is normal from a Watch to a Warning as confidence is greater with the weather model data," Todd Snow of Hudson Valley Weather said on Facebook.

Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches an hour are possible on Tuesday. Travel will be difficult, especially during the Tuesday AM commute.

"This heavy rate of snow has the potential to strand motorists and inhibit highway departments from keeping roads plowed and open. Road closures are possible at the height of the storm," said Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist.

The expected track of the storm remains uncertain and continues to result in a large difference between the “low end” and “high end” snowfall forecasts. Also, there likely will be a sharp northern cut-off in snowfall amounts but there still remains uncertainty on where this gradient will occur as uncertainty persists regarding just how far north and west the axis of heaviest snow will extend, the NWS said.

For Dutchess and Ulster counties, 8-12 inches are possible. Snow will overspread the area after midnight Monday night and continue though Tuesday morning with snow tapering off during the afternoon.

For Orange, Putnam, Rockland and northern Westchester counties, the nor'easter will bring a period of moderate to heavy snow inland, and rain transitioning to a rain/snow mix and then snow down to the coast. Gusty winds and minor to moderate coastal flooding impacts are also possible. Accumulations of 5 to 10 inches with locally higher amounts, especially north of I-84, are possible. For southern Westchester, accumulations of 3-5 inches are possible.

Orange County is likely to get 8-12 inches.

"As of late Sunday afternoon this specific solution currently projects potential for the Tuesday snowfall event with anywhere from 10" up to 22" of snowfall across Orange County," Bruce Furbeck of First Due Weather said on Facebook. "Even the NWS has elevated their expected snowfall totals."

This comes a couple of days after a record high temperature of 59 degrees was set in Poughkeepsie on Saturday.

Check back with Patch for updates.