Hi there!

A winter storm is looming for Friday. It looks disruptive, coming with a helping of snow, sleet, and possibly freezing rain.

Schools that are in session, mainly outside of Orange County, are officially on three day weekend alert, courtesy of Mother Nature.

Here are a few key points regarding the upcoming storm:

• Confidence is higher than normal — the upcoming weather pattern will be conducive to wintry precipitation.

• Precipitation will likely start as snow during the early hours of Friday morning, well before the start of the AM commute.

• Several inches of accumulation are possible. Total snowfall will be variable across the region and based upon how much sleet falls. The highest amounts are expected north of I-84. Subject to change, but a 3-6 inch storm seems like a decent bet at this point. Some areas north of I-84 (e.g. Ulster, Dutchess) could receive more than 6 inches.

• A changeover to sleet, and possibly freezing rain, looks likely on Friday morning. A glaze of ice is likely but it’s a bit premature to talk total ice accretion.

• Winds look rather light, so the risk for power outages doesn’t appear particularly high.

• Precipitation will ease on Friday afternoon, but it will still be rather messy leading up to the PM commute.

• Elevated potential for school closures. Plan to exercise alternative working arrangements where possible.

• Improved conditions on Saturday, although the temperature may not rise above freezing until Sunday.

My next email update will arrive by Thursday morning. In the meantime, follow along on Twitter for additional updates.