Tri-state Area Braces for Season’s First Snowflakes as Winter Storm Approaches

Parts of the tri-state area are anticipating their first snowflakes of the season later this week, coinciding with a busy travel weekend. Regions north and west of New York City could experience accumulating snow from Thursday into Friday, according to forecasters.

A winter storm warning has been issued for Sullivan and western Ulster counties in New York, as well as Pike County in Pennsylvania. Residents in Carbon and Monroe counties should also prepare for a winter weather advisory from 4 p.m. Thursday until 4 p.m. Friday.

In the immediate New York City metropolitan area, the majority of residents are expected to encounter heavy rainfall. However, snow is anticipated in high elevation areas such as Pike, Sullivan, western Ulster, northwestern New Jersey, and other northerly and westerly regions.

These areas might see snow starting as early as Thursday evening, with conditions persisting through Friday morning. Snowfall accumulations in higher elevations could range from a trace to five inches, while the highest points north and west of the city may witness six to eight inches of snow by the storm’s conclusion on Friday.

Forecasters predict temperatures will hover around 40 degrees on Friday morning, approaching the freezing point in elevated regions, which makes snow accumulation more likely. Parts of the storm are projected to drop considerable snow on counties such as Tompkins, Madison, Cortland, Chenango, Otsego, Tioga, Broome, Delaware, Sullivan, Greene, and Ulster, where a winter storm warning is in effect.

In these higher terrains, particularly in the Catskill Mountains and surrounding areas, 12 to 16 inches of snow is possible at the highest elevations, while 6 to 12 inches could fall on terrains above 1500 feet. Valleys in these counties might see between 1 and 4 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

Additional parts of the Southern Tier, western New York, and areas just north of New York City are under winter weather advisories. These advisories generally expire by Friday afternoon, though alerts closer to New York City may conclude by mid-morning.

Meteorologists report that western New York cities like Rochester and Buffalo are too warm for snowfall, with temperatures falling to the upper 30s, allowing for widespread rain instead. Despite this, advisories continue as cooler temperatures and snow may impact other areas.