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

SOUTHEAST, NY — An unusual arctic blast that will keep us freezing all week will push snow into the region Tuesday. The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for Orange and Putnam Counties.

There is the potential for 2 to 5 inches inches of snowfall across the region Tuesday into Tuesday night. Light snow will develop late morning into the afternoon and will mix with or change to rain before going back to snow in the evening. The highest amounts are forecast across northern and western portions of the Orange County.

However, a low pressure system off the coast may keep precipitation in the lower Hudson Valley mostly rain.

"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 arctic blast that greeted us Monday morning is the precursor to the polar vortex which is swooping down on the Midwest then coming east later this week.

"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 Putnam County:

• Monday-Sunny. Highs in the upper 20s. North winds around 5 mph.
• Monday night-Mostly clear in the evening, then mostly cloudy with a slight chance of snow after midnight. Lows around 20. East winds around 5 mph. Chance of snow 20 percent.
• Tuesday-A chance of snow in the morning, then rain with snow likely in the afternoon. Snow accumulation around an inch. Highs in the mid 30s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 20 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent.
• Tuesday Night-Rain and snow in the evening, then snow likely after midnight. Additional light snow accumulation. Lows around 18. South winds 5 to 10 mph, becoming west after midnight. Gusts up to 25 mph. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent.
• Wednesday-Mostly sunny in the morning, then becoming mostly cloudy. Scattered snow showers. Colder with highs around 19. West winds around 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph, increasing to 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph in the afternoon. Chance of snow 30 percent. Wind chill values as low as 3 below.
• Wednesday Night-Mostly clear. Much colder with lows around zero. Wind chill values as low as 20 below.
• Thursday-Mostly sunny. Cold with highs around 10 above. Wind chill values as low as 20 below.
• Thursday Night-Mostly clear. Cold with lows around zero. Wind chill values as low as 15 below.
• Friday-Mostly sunny in the morning, then becoming mostly cloudy. Cold with highs around 20. Wind chill values as low as 15 below in the morning.
• Friday Night-Mostly cloudy in the evening, then clearing. Lows around 10 above.

Image via AccuWeather.com