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A significant winter storm is expected to hit the Hudson Valley region this weekend, with forecasters predicting between 12 and 18 inches of snow for much of eastern New York and western New England.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch that will be in effect from Sunday morning through Monday evening, warning of potentially dangerous travel conditions throughout the duration of the storm.
"Right now we're looking at the storm coming early. Late Saturday night. With the heavy snow likely falling between Sunday and Sunday night and then lingering into Monday," said National Weather Service meteorologist Kaitlyn Lardeo, who noted there's a 60 percent chance of six inches or more in the Catskill region, according to Mid Hudson News.
The storm is expected to be a long-duration event, with snowfall rates potentially exceeding one inch per hour at times, especially Sunday afternoon into Sunday night. The highest snowfall amounts are expected across the eastern Catskills, Mid Hudson Valley, and southwestern New England.
Governor Kathy Hochul has already declared a state of emergency, announcing that state resources will be deployed to help local communities deal with the storm. "Be ready," Hochul said. "Let's just get through this weekend safely and live to tell stories about it afterward," the Times Union reported.
New York State Department of Transportation Region 8 spokeswoman Heather Pillsworth confirmed that road crews are prepared for the storm. "Our folks are prepped on 12-hour shifts. We will have our folks from the time that the storm starts to the time it ends, and the roadways are clear," she said, adding that if you must drive, the safest place to be is "behind the plow."
The storm is part of a larger weather system affecting much of the country, stretching from the Rocky Mountains to the East Coast. Meteorologists are warning that the combination of heavy snow and frigid temperatures could make this the most significant winter weather event to hit the region in nearly two years.
Temperatures are expected to drop below zero Friday night and remain frigid throughout the weekend, with lows in the single digits and highs in the teens during the storm. These extreme cold conditions could impact traditional road-clearing methods such as salt treatment, further complicating travel on Sunday and Monday.
The National Weather Service advises residents to consider delaying travel if possible and to use extreme caution if travel is absolutely necessary. Those who must travel should keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in their vehicle in case of an emergency.