Revised Snow Totals; Wind Chills Expected In Hudson Valley

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — When it comes to weather forecasting, it's always a matter of degrees. Looking toward Friday's approaching cold air mass, it is definitely going to be cold. There doesn't seem to be any doubt about that.

After all, we are talking about wind chills in the month of May in parts of the region.

Whether there is accumulating snow is now the question.

Alex Marra and Bill Potter of Hudson Valley Weather are looking at one forecast model that shows milder air keeping the arctic blast further north.

That would mean a slushy coating on unpaved surfaces around most of the Hudson Valley.

If, however, two other models which predict earlier and colder temperature drops Friday night turn out to be true, then "a coating to 3 inches across much of the Hudson Valley is possible," Hudson Valley Weather said. "So we'll have to see how things unfold Friday evening."

Bottom line, though, is it's going to feel cold on Saturday — not at all like May, but more like January.

The National Weather Service has issued a couple of hazardous weather outlooks for the region.

For Columbia, Dutchess and Ulster counties, the weather service said rain will change to snow Friday evening and accumulate up to an inch for the valley area, with 1 to 4 inches across the hills and mountains, mainly on grass and non-paved surfaces. Locally slick conditions are possible. For Saturday, wind gusts will be as high as 45 mph. If higher gusts are expected, then a wind advisory will be issued. Cold temperatures are also expected for Saturday night, with some spots coming close to the freezing mark.

Orange County is under a freeze warning from 2 a.m. to 8 a.m. Saturday. Temperatures as low as 31 degrees are expected. Frost and freeze conditions will kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.

For southern Westchester, a coastal flood advisory is in effect from midnight Friday to 3 a.m. Saturday. Up to 1 foot of inundation above ground level can be expected in vulnerable areas near the waterfront and shoreline.

Here is the latest forecast from the National Weather Service for northern Westchester through the weekend:

• Friday: Rain likely, mainly after 2pm. Cloudy, with a steady temperature around 50. Northwest wind around 6 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
• Friday Night: Rain, possibly mixing with snow after midnight, then gradually ending. Low around 33. Wind chill values between 25 and 30. East wind 6 to 14 mph becoming north after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
• Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 46. Wind chill values between 25 and 35 early. Breezy, with a northwest wind 15 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph.
• Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before 9pm. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 32. Wind chill values between 25 and 30. West wind 10 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
• Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58. West wind around 14 mph.
• Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40.

Like Hudson Valley Patches' Facebook Pages.