01/01/2025: New Year, New Weather Pattern
The Latest Storm Tracker Forecast from Meteorologist Kevin Appleby:
A burst of rain, with even some thunder & lightning, moved through our region as we ushered in 2025, but widespread steady precip has calmed and tapered for now. Gusty winds out of the west-northwest will develop into this afternoon as rain and mountain snow showers redevelop into this evening. Temperatures trend colder into next week.
Wind Advisories are in effect for much of the viewing area from 3 PM this afternoon through 10 PM tomorrow night with the concern for gusts up to 50 MPH. This may lead to a few downed tree limbs and power outages.
Meanwhile, Lake-Effect Snow Warnings have been issued for much of the Adirondacks through Saturday afternoon, where over a foot of snow is possible over the next several days. Winter Weather Advisories have been issued for Northern Berkshire and Bennington Counties through tomorrow evening, where upslope-enhanced snow is anticipated to sustain enough to produce a plowable snow.
Temperatures today will struggle to rise, perhaps into the low 40s for highs, but clouds will hang tough as rain and mountain snow showers redevelop with windy conditions arriving by mid-afternoon.
Snow will be the most persistent in the Adirondacks and the higher terrain east of the Hudson Valley into Western New England.
Low temperatures will be near or slightly below freezing.
Through 7 AM Thursday morning (just prior to the lake effect snow really kicking into a higher gear), accumulations will primarily be elevation-dependent, though I do think a coating is possible within the lower elevations of the Mohawk Valley. Accumulations will be the highest within the spine of the Greens and the Adirondacks, where widespread 4"+ of snow is on tap.
Lake-effect snow will continue Thursday, Friday, and even early Saturday, with the band pivoting a bit south and north over that time frame. Thursday especially, I do think some of the snow makes it into the Capital Region and the Berkshire and Bennington Counties. The Capital Region could see a coating, with higher amounts possible with upslope enhancement for Western New England within the Winter Weather Advisory area.
Mostly cloudy and windy otherwise for Thursday with highs in the 30s.
Lake effect snow continues Friday and Saturday as temperatures continue to trend cooler. By Saturday, highs will struggle to get out of the 20s, where we will remain for the remainder of the forecast period in terms of forecast highs.
A foot plus of snowfall is favored for Western Hamilton and much of Herkimer Counties through Saturday from the lake effect snowfall.
A few flakes may fly through the air Sunday but we do not expect accumulation for the second half of the weekend. More sun is anticipated for the middle of next week along with a continued chill. There is a signal for an area of low pressure to pass by just to our south Monday, but I am expecting this to miss our viewing area as of writing this.