Albany, NY – A widespread winter storm is set to blanket portions of eastern New York, western Massachusetts, and southern Vermont with heavy snow beginning this morning, creating dangerous travel conditions through late tonight. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect from 7 a.m. Tuesday to 1 a.m. Wednesday, with commuters across the Capital Region and surrounding areas likely to face significant delays.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Albany, snowfall totals of 6 to 9 inches are expected across most of the region, with higher amounts between 9 and 12 inches likely in Vermont’s southern Green Mountains. Snow is forecast to intensify during the late afternoon and evening, coinciding with peak travel hours between Albany, Pittsfield, Glens Falls, Bennington, and surrounding communities.
Forecasters warn that roads, especially bridges and overpasses, may become slick and hazardous quickly as temperatures stay below freezing throughout the day. The combination of reduced visibility and building snowpack could make travel “difficult to impossible” at times, according to the NWS.
Snowfall rates of 0.5 to 1 inch per hour are expected, with pockets exceeding 1 inch per hour in heavier bands, especially across higher elevations in Berkshire County, the eastern Catskills, and southern Vermont.
Drivers are urged to delay travel when possible and to keep emergency supplies such as food, water, blankets, and a flashlight in their vehicles. Road conditions are expected to be especially treacherous from late afternoon through early evening, when the storm reaches peak intensity.
Residents should monitor updated forecasts and prepare for continued delays into the overnight hours.
