Estimates, Timing For Monday Snowstorm In The Hudson Valley

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — A big winter storm moving across the country is expected to hit the mid-Atlantic Sunday night as a low-pressure system develops off the East Coast.

The result will be snow for a couple of days next week, though exactly where and how much is still uncertain.

The forecasters at AccuWeather.com are predicting 12-18 inches for the Hudson Valley. The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous outlook that estimates 6 inches for the lower valley. However, Hudson Valley Weather warns total accumulation locally could be lower.

"It's likely to be a significant storm with significant snow, but the question is where?" said Bill Potter of Hudson Valley Weather in a Facebook video briefing. "Is the storm going to be focused to our south, Pennsylvania and New York City? Or does the snow shield expand north into the Hudson Valley?"

The frigid, dry cold air now chilling the region could keep the coastal storm from pushing this far north, Potter said. In addition to warning everyone to be wary of wind chill factors below zero through the weekend, he recommended anyone with plans for Monday and Tuesday keep a close eye on the forecasts, because the models don't yet agree and are still shifting.

"This is not a slam-dunk," he said.

AccuWeather forecasters warn that the secondary storm along the Eastern Seaboard could evolve into a full-fledged nor'easterthat could bring blizzard conditions.

"The question is: How close to the coast this storm will move? That all depends on the upper-level wind pattern," AccuWeather Chief Broadcast Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said.

The National Weather Service said in addition to 6 or more inches of snow to the lower Hudson Valley, strong northeast winds, coastal flooding, and beach erosion will be possible.

But, they hedged, "At this time, there remains a fair amount of uncertainty with the low track and timing to be specific with details."

AccuWeather predicts the snow will hit the Hudson Valley late Sunday night or early Monday.

The National Weather Service says there's a possibility for snow from Sunday afternoon through Tuesday night. Here's the NWS forecast for southern Westchester:

• Friday night - Mostly clear. Lows around 11. Northwest winds 15 to 20 mph, diminishing to around 10 mph after midnight. Gusts up to 30 mph. Wind chill values as low as 1 below.
• Saturday - Sunny. Highs in the upper 20s. Northwest winds around 10 mph. Wind chill values as low as 3 below in the morning.
• Saturday Night - Clear in the evening, then becoming partly cloudy. Lows around 14. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
• Sunday - Partly sunny in the morning, then becoming mostly cloudy. Highs in the upper 20s. Northeast winds around 5 mph.
• Sunday Night - Cloudy with a 50 percent chance of snow. Lows in the mid 20s.
• Monday- Snow likely. highs in the lower 30s. Chance of snow 70 percent.
• Monday Night- Snow likely. Breezy with lows in the lower 30s. Chance of snow 70 percent.
• Tuesday- Snow likely. Breezy with highs in the lower 30s. Chance of snow 60 percent.
• Tuesday Night- Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of snow. Lows in the mid 20s.
• Wednesday - Mostly sunny, with a high near 36.