Cold Front Could Cause Severe Storms, Flooding In The Hudson Valley

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Flood watches go into effect across the lower Hudson Valley Tuesday afternoon as a stalled cold front will act as a focus for thunderstorm activity from the Ohio Valley into parts of the Tri-State area into Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

A hazardous outlook has been issued for Dutchess and Ulster counties.

Tropical moisture from Debby will interact with the stationary front and likely generate heavy rainfall over parts of eastern Pennsylvania, northern Maryland, New Jersey, and the NYC metro area, the NWS said, bringing a moderate risk of flash fooding.

Total rainfall will be 1 to 2 inches across the region, but some locations could receive 3-5 inches in 3-6 hours, the NWS said.

Scattered to numerous instances of flash flooding of urban and poor drainage areas and along quick responding rivers and streams are possible. Flooding could be locally significant, causing major disruptions to transportation, flooding basements, first floors of residences and businesses, underground infrastructure, and posing an elevated threat to life.

There is also risk for isolated strong to severe thunderstorms with strong to damaging winds gusts Tuesday afternoon and evening, the NWS said.

National Night Out events have been canceled in Mount Pleasant and Mount Vernon and curtailed in Croton-on-Hudson.

But wait, there's more.

"Wish we could say that’s it for the flooding potential, but the remnants of Debby look to also interact with a frontal boundary Fri/Sat," said the folks at Hudson Valley Weather. "This will spread an additional round of heavy rainfall across the region. The biggest concern will be whether or not Debby’s rains will fall over areas impacted the most by tonight’s slow moving downpours as this could lead to more extensive flooding."

After dumping feet of rain while crawling through coastal areas of the southeastern U.S. into Thursday, Debby is forecast to pick up speed later this week, said Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist. The exact track and intensity will influence the extent and magnitude of the tropical downpours that spread northward from Friday to Saturday.

"There are already posted short range mesoscale maps that are depicting as much as 8"-12" or more of rainfall between now until lunchtime Friday," Bruce Furbeck of First Due Weather said on Facebook. "The rain won’t end until Saturday afternoon."

Here's a look at the next 48 hours based on New City:

Here's the forecast through the weekend from the National Weather Service, based on northern Westchester:

Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers with isolated thunderstorms late this morning, then showers likely with scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. Highs in the lower 80s. Northwest winds around 5 mph, becoming north around 5 mph this afternoon. Chance of rain 70 percent.

Tonight
Showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms after midnight. Some thunderstorms may produce heavy rainfall. Locally heavy rainfall possible after midnight. Lows in the lower 60s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90 percent.

Wednesday
Showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms in the morning, then showers likely with a slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Some thunderstorms may produce heavy rainfall in the morning. Highs around 70. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90 percent.

Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then a chance of showers after midnight. Lows around 60. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Thursday
Partly sunny. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 70s. East winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.

Thursday Night
Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 60s. Chance of rain 70 percent.

Friday
Showers with a chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 70s. Chance of rain 90 percent.

Friday Night
Showers with a chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s. Chance of rain 80 percent.

Saturday
Showers likely. Highs in the mid 70s. Chance of rain 70 percent.

Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy in the evening, then becoming partly cloudy. A 40 percent chance of showers. Lows around 60.

Sunday
Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 70s.

Sunday Night
Partly cloudy. Lows around 60.