Flash Floods, Winds, High Tides: Hudson Valley Weather Thursday

It's a mess out there, but at least it's not snow. With heavy rain coming down throughout the Hudson Valley, combined with mild temperatures, there is still a chance of flash floods occurring in the region. One thing to keep in mind after the rain ends at some point Thursday is that temperatures will go down below freezing overnight, turning any water on sidewalks or roadway into a possibly slippery frozen hazard.

The National Weather Service said a flash flood watch continues for all of the Hudson Valley for Thursday.

The watch for Orange, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties is in effect until 6 p.m. Thursday.

There is the potential for heavy downpours into early afternoon Thursday. A total of 1.25 to 2.25 inches of rainfall with locally higher amounts is possible.

Flash flooding of urban and poor drainage areas, as well as small streams, can be anticipated.

Flood advisories have also been issued for Thursday.

In Orange and Rockland counties, there is a flood advisory in effect until 2 p.m.

Southern Westchester is under a coastal flood advisory until 3 p.m. Thursday. Tidal departure is expected to be 1 to 2 feet above astronomical tides.

To cap things off for southern Westchester, there is a wind advisory until 6 p.m. Thursday, with south or southwest winds 2o to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph in the forecast. Strong winds could blow down limbs, trees and power lines.

Also in effect is a flash flood watch for Columbia, Dutchess and eastern Ulster counties until 6 p.m. Thursday. There could be a period of briefly heavy rain from mid-morning into the early afternoon.

Around 1 to 2 inches of rainfall is expected, with up to 3 inches in the Green Mountains. The rainfall, along with melting snow, will allow for rises on rivers and streams.

In addition, the high rainfall rates may allow for minor flooding of urban, poor drainage and low-lying areas.

And with the ground being frozen, isolated flash flooding will be possible.

Isolated ice jams cannot be ruled out, which may also result in flooding.

Overnight Thursday, the forecast is calling for temperatures to fall to around 24 degrees in the mid-Hudson Valley to around 27 degrees in the lower Hudson Valley.

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