What you should know
- Rain, snow and high winds reached parts of the New York area on Thursday afternoon and will continue through Friday afternoon/evening. The Hudson Valley could see up to 8 inches of snow.
- New York City will receive mostly rain which could make commuting difficult on Friday morning. To the far north and west of New York City a foot of snow or more could be seen
- Some areas may see more than a foot of snow, especially further north and west of New York City. Dry weather is expected for the weekend, but it will be cold. There’s another possibility of a storm that could bring snow before Christmas weekend, though forecasts are too far off at this point to be sure.
NEW YORK – A long-lasting winter storm began moving into the New York area Thursday with heavy snow, ice and rain expected to last through Friday night, which could leave parts of the Hudson Valley up to 8 inches of snow and flooding in coastal areas from high winds and downpours.
Our meteorological authority asks motorists to be careful on the roads and people living in the metropolitan area are asked to remove their umbrellas. More than 300 storm-related automobile accidents were reported in New York City as of 6:00 a.m.. Plus a Fatal crash in New Jersey involving a truck that overturned.
Additionally, several schools have announced their closures. SEE LIST HERE. There are wind gust warnings up to 50 mph for coastal parts.
Most of the volatile system arrived late afternoon and early evening Thursday, bringing rain for many. Those in the far north and west saw light snowflakes that quickly turned to snowdrifts, with up to 7 inches already covering the ground in parts of Sullivan County, New York, Friday morning and an extra 1 to 2 inches are expected during the day. . The roads were covered (and slippery) in other parts of northern New Jersey and the Hudson Valley.
A rapid change from rain to snow could be seen in northeastern New Jersey in the Hudson Valley and backcountry Connecticut before the storm clears tonight. In addition to snow and rain, the storm will also continue to produce easterly gusts with a wind advisory for Long Island, the metro area, and Connecticut until 4:00 p.m. with possible wind gusts up to 50 mph. Winds, coupled with precipitation, can also cause locally isolated light to moderate flooding to much of our coastal area during high water cycles, inundating vulnerable areas.
Follow live radar here as the storm approaches.
Isabel Peralta-Hill with information.
Those areas north and west of New York City will continue to see snow through Friday, and it is likely to persist in those areas well into the afternoon. Winter storm warnings remain in effect for western Ulster County in New York, as well as Sullivan County and Pike County in Pennsylvania. Winter weather alerts are due to expire later Friday morning for a swathe of the region.
As was the case with the storm earlier this week, coastal areas and localities in and around New York City will remain above freezing and can expect mostly rain, around 1-2 inches, through Friday evening. Coastal flooding is a concern, although snow and ice buildup north and west of the city are the biggest threats with this system.
The northern end of Hudson Valley you may see 6 to 8 inches of snow, while higher elevations can expect a foot or more. Much of the snow accumulation was confined to the Albany and Binghamton areas early Friday morning.
Piseco, in New York’s Hamilton County, had 7 inches of snow before dawn, while parts of Binghamton had more than 4 inches at the same time. By mid-afternoon, Port Jervis was nearly 8 inches.
Further accumulations of light are expected as cooler air filters into the rear of the storm. Rain will briefly turn to snow again later Thursday afternoon and evening before the precipitation disappears completely.
Wind gusts of up to 50 mph, with sustained winds between 20 and 30 mph, exacerbate the threat. Winds are expected to peak early Friday, with eastern Long Island and parts of the New Jersey coast likely feeling the worst.
Wind warnings have been issued for coastal areas throughout the tri-state area and are expected to persist through Friday afternoon before the heavy gusts begin to slowly subside.
Given that, Gov. Kathy Hochul urges New Yorkers to be careful before bad weather hits.
“I encourage all New Yorkers to pay attention and be prepared for potential power outages and rough travel Thursday and Friday as snow and ice accumulate in the northeastern parts of the state,” Hochul said. “Our emergency response agencies are well prepared for this storm and will be working around the clock for the next few days to keep New Yorkers safe.”
Emergency Contacts: Reports power outages and damage in bad weather.
In terms of snowfall, due to the storm’s extended duration (Thursday through Friday evenings) it is possible to accumulate close to a foot or more, especially north or west of the city. In northern New Jersey, the Hudson Valley and in inland Connecticut, 3 to 8 inches can be expected.
Due to the extended duration of the snowfall (Thursday through Friday evenings), it can accumulate close to a foot or more, especially further north or west of the city. In NW New Jersey and the Hudson Valley, you can expect between 3 and 8 inches. Snowfall and icing are the big concerns.
The largest snow totals are likely to be found at higher elevations in the Poconos and Catskills, but we may also see parts of the Hudson Valley greater than 6 inches of snow.
Winter storm warnings are in effect for western Sullivan and Ulster counties in New York, as well as Pike County in Pennsylvania through Friday afternoon. Other parts of northern New Jersey and the Hudson Valley were subject to winter weather warnings.
No significant accumulation of ice is expected with this weather event, but travel conditions will be dangerous, especially through Friday. Where heavy snow falls and gusty winds blow, power outages are also a cause for concern. Thursday afternoon and Friday morning trips to the city and Long Island can also be affected by rain and high winds.
Check here for the latest weather alerts for your neighborhood.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE STORM
- Winter weather in inland areas on Friday afternoon.
- Build up between 1 and 2 inches on elevated areas.
- Strong wind gusts over 45 MPH
- Slippery conditions in the northwest.
- Rain for the rest of the area with coastal flooding.
By tonight, the storm should end with clear skies overnight. Our weekend will be sunny but very cold with cold winds in the 30s on both days.
Elsewhere in the United States, the massive storm system created blizzard-like conditions on the Great Plains and was expected to push more snow and ice to the Northeast. Residents from West Virginia to Vermont have been told to watch out for a possible significant mix of snow, ice and sleet. The winter blast dumped more than 2 feet of snow in parts of South Dakota and was part of the vast, unstable system that swept across the United States and killed three people in Louisiana.
