Binghamton, New York – A fast-changing burst of snow will transition to freezing rain by late Tuesday morning, creating a light ice glaze that could slick up I-81 and NY-17 before the midday drive.
According to the National Weather Service in Binghamton, precipitation will spread from south to north Tuesday morning, beginning as snow before mixing with sleet and freezing rain by around midday. Most communities across Broome, Tioga and Chenango counties will see less than 1 inch of snow and sleet before the changeover. The primary concern is a light glaze of ice, with most areas receiving under 0.10 inch. Higher elevations from northeast Pennsylvania into the Catskills could approach one-tenth inch.
Temperatures will start in the upper teens to upper 20s at daybreak, allowing untreated roads to become icy during the transition. Elevated surfaces along I-88, US-11 and I-81 will freeze first, especially across Cortland, Norwich and Oneonta. In Scranton and Montrose, a brief period of freezing rain could create slick side roads before warmer air changes precipitation to plain rain.
Road crews will monitor conditions, but the shift from snow to ice to rain may create rapidly changing travel impacts between 7 a.m. and early afternoon. Drivers should reduce speeds, increase following distance and use caution on bridges and overpasses.
Temperatures are expected to rise into the 30s to near 40 degrees by late afternoon, improving road conditions as icing melts. Additional advisories may be issued if ice amounts trend higher during the Tuesday morning commute.
