Damaging Wind, Rain Expected Christmas Eve In The Hudson Valley

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — The hazardous outlooks issued for the Hudson Valley have been updated and expanded.

For one thing, the National Weather Service says we could receive 2-4 inches of rain. So there are flood watches in effect from Christmas Eve through Christmas morning.

Then the NWS says damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines. "Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles," the NWS said.

So there are high wind warnings — gusts up to 65 mph — for eastern Dutchess and southern Westchester from 6 p.m. Thursday till 10 a.m. Friday. For Orange, Putnam, Rockland and northern Westchester there's a high wind watch with winds predicted to be 20-30 mph with gusts up to 55 mph.

That storm will blow through ahead of truly Arctic air, bringing temperatures down sharply and freezing everything wet.

"The cold blast and lake-effect snow will ease over the weekend," said Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist.