Snow, Rain, Polar Vortex: Chappaqua's Work Week

MOUNT KISCO, NY — An unusual arctic blast that will keep us freezing all week will push snow into the region Tuesday. However, a low pressure system off the coast may keep precipitation in the lower Hudson Valley mostly rain.

The National Weather Service sees is the potential for 2 to 5 inches of snow across northern and western potions of the Lower Hudson Valley, 1 to 2 across the remainder of the interior, and an inch or less at the coast.

"This type of arctic front… and the air mass behind it… is not one you see all that often," said Alex Marra and Bill Potter of Hudson Valley Weather. "Latest guidance suggests that anyone from roughly I-84 on south has the best chance of mixing with and changing to rain. The warm air is all at the surface with this system… meaning freezing rain and sleet should not be an issue. The question is either snow… or rain. We’ll have to watch the exact position of this system in the next 24 to 36 hours."

The National Weather Service forecasts that rain at midday could change back to snow Tuesday night.

The arctic blast that greeted us Monday morning is the precursor to the polar vortex which is swooping down on the Midwest then coming east at midweek.

"Thursday can rival the cold blast from earlier last week as the harshest so far this winter along the Northeast’s I-95 corridor. The day can start with lows in the single digits from Boston to New York City to Baltimore with highs only in the teens or lower 20s," said Kyle Elliott, AccuWeather meteorologist.

That's going to keep it really, really cold through the end of January. Yes, the end of January.

Here's what the National Weather Service forecasts for the work week in northern Westchester:

• Monday-Sunny. Highs around 30. North winds 5 to 10 mph.
• Monday night-Mostly clear in the evening, then mostly cloudy with a slight chance of snow after midnight. Lows in the lower 20s. East winds around 5 mph. Chance of snow 20 percent.
• Tuesday-Cloudy. A chance of snow in the morning, then rain likely in the afternoon. Little or no snow accumulation. Highs in the upper 30s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 20 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.
• Tuesday Night-Rain and snow in the evening, then snow likely after midnight. Light snow accumulation. Lows around 19. South winds 5 to 10 mph, becoming west 10 to 15 mph after midnight. Gusts up to 25 mph. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent.
• Wednesday-Partly sunny with scattered snow showers. Colder with highs in the lower 20s. West winds 15 to 20 mph. Gusts up to 30 mph in the afternoon. Chance of snow 30 percent. Wind chill values as low as 1 below.
• Wednesday Night-Mostly clear. Much colder with lows around zero. Wind chill values as low as 20 below.
• Thursday-Sunny, cold with highs around 10 above. Wind chill values as low as 20 below.
• Thursday Night-Mostly clear. Cold with lows zero to 5 above zero. Wind chill values as low as 10 below.
• Friday-Mostly sunny in the morning, then becoming mostly cloudy. Cold with highs in the lower 20s. Wind chill values as low as 10 below in the morning.
• Friday Night-Mostly cloudy in the evening, then clearing. Lows around 10 above.

Image via AccuWeather.com