Snow Squalls Could Affect Wednesday Commute In Hudson Valley

The National Weather Service is warning of the potential for snow squalls in Orange, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties Wednesday, potentially corresponding with the evening rush. For Dutchess and Ulster counties, the NWS posted a new Hazardous Weather Outlook.

For the lower Hudson, there's a 30 percent chance of snow showers from about 3 p.m. until 10 p.m.

A snow squall is an intense, but limited duration, period of moderate to heavy snowfall, accompanied by strong, gusty winds. On Wednesday, wind gusts approaching 40 mph are likely. No snow accumulation is expected.

In December 2016, the driver of a mini school bus lost control of the bus on Long Island during a snow squall, triggering a 29-vehicle pileup that injured six people.

For the mid-Hudson, snow showers and squalls are expected between the late morning and early evening hours on Wednesday as an arctic cold front crosses the region. These squalls may result in locally dangerous travel conditions.

Temperatures are expected to remain below freezing through the Wednesday morning commute so black ice is a concern.

Use extra caution if traveling and be prepared for slippery road conditions," the weather service said in a special weather statement issued for the region. "Use extreme caution if you encounter icy roads."

After the squalls, gusty winds are expected to last through the night. Temperatures Wednesday and Wednesday night will be below normal, and wind chill values late Wednesday night will drop to within a few degrees of zero in most locations. A Wind Chill Advisory will likely be needed for high terrain areas Wednesday night into Thursday morning.