School disruptions likely Friday

Update #693c: A wintry mix will arrive in the Hudson Valley during Friday's morning commute, leading to slippery roads.

Timing is everything.

Friday’s storm won’t be prolific, but its arrival will be perfectly aligned with the morning commute in the Hudson Valley, likely leading to school delays and closings.

Although it won’t be big, it should be taken seriously, as a mix of snow and ice during peak morning travel could lead to issues on the roads.

The National Weather Service has yet to issue a Winter Weather Advisory, but they mentioned in their forecast discussion that one may be necessary.

Timing

Starting between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. on Friday morning from south to north.

Amounts

A coating to an inch or two of snow and sleet and a glaze of ice, with the highest amounts near the Catskills where temperatures will remain below freezing the longest.

In the Hudson Valley, wintry precipitation should transition to plain rain or drizzle on Friday afternoon.

Impacts

Because of recent milder temperatures, the impact of this event remains a bit uncertain. Temperatures will be hovering near or just below freezing as wintry precipitation begins during Friday’s morning commute — which isn’t a great combination.

That should cause roads and sidewalks to abruptly slicken up. If you can, consider delaying your travel until the afternoon.

Despite the borderline nature of this event, the combination of snow, ice, and disruptive timing means that school closings are likely — especially north of I-84 where the wintry mix will linger longest. Schools may initially opt for delays to allow more time to determine whether a snow/ice day is the best call.

This will be the final update for this storm. Stay safe!

Sunday-Monday storm

The Hudson Valley will likely find itself near the northern edge of a strong nor’easter from late Sunday into Monday.

This could mean that there will be a glancing blow of snow or that the storm misses the region. A direct hit remains least likely.

For more info on this storm and which areas could be hardest hit, check out my article in today’s Washington Post.