Albany, NY – Roads across parts of eastern New York and western New England could turn slick by late Friday morning as snow quickly transitions to sleet and freezing rain, creating up to two-tenths of an inch of ice before midnight.
According to the National Weather Service in Albany, a Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 10 a.m. Friday until 1 a.m. Saturday for northern and southern Litchfield counties in Connecticut, Berkshire County in Massachusetts, and portions of Saratoga, Washington, Rensselaer, Columbia and Dutchess counties in New York. Snow and sleet totals will range from 2 to 4 inches, with 4 to 7 inches possible in the southern Adirondack foothills and higher elevations of the Berkshires. Ice accumulation of 0.10 to 0.20 inches is most likely in the Taconics and western New England.
Wet, heavy snow will fall during the late morning and early afternoon in Saratoga Springs, Pittsfield and Torrington before mixing with sleet and freezing rain during the evening commute. Routes such as I-87 in Saratoga County, Route 7 in the Berkshires and Route 22 through eastern Rensselaer County may become slippery, especially on bridges and untreated secondary roads.
Local highway crews are expected to treat major roadways, but sidewalks, driveways and parking lots could glaze over quickly. Drivers should reduce speed and allow extra stopping distance. Residents are urged to watch for icy steps and keep phones charged in case isolated power issues develop where ice builds on tree limbs.
Precipitation tapers late Friday night, but slick spots may linger into early Saturday morning. Additional advisories remain possible if higher terrain snowfall trends upward.
