By Melanie Lekocevic
Capital Region Independent Media
Spring may be near, but winter’s not done with us yet.
A major winter storm is headed to the area that could bring up to 1-2 feet of snow, according to the National Weather Service of Albany.
A winter storm watch is in effect beginning Monday afternoon and running through Wednesday morning.
The late-winter storm could bring 12 to 18 inches of heavy wet snow, with winds gusting as high as 40 mph at times, according to the National Weather Service.
Travel is expected to be very difficult to impossible and the hazardous conditions could impact morning and evening commutes Tuesday into Wednesday.
“This has the potential of being a long duration and high-impact snow event for eastern New York and western New England,” according to a statement from the National Weather Service. “Heavy wet snow combined with strong winds will likely lead to downed trees and power outages across the area. Please begin preparing now for this upcoming winter storm event.”
Higher amounts of snow are possible in the eastern Catskills, Berkshires, Taconics and southern Green Mountains.
The utility company Central Hudson issued an alert Sunday afternoon warning that the heavy snow and gusting winds could bring outages to the area due to the possibility of trees and tree limbs falling onto power lines, causing service interruptions.
“There remains a degree of uncertainty regarding the path of the latest winter storm and the potential impacts it could have on our region, but we are monitoring conditions and are prepared to respond if outages do occur,” said Ryan Hawthorne, vice president of Electric Engineering and Operations at Central Hudson. “We have a field force of more than 430 line and clearance workers that includes internal crews, contractors and mutual assistance to help expedite repairs if the need arises.”
If power lines do fall, the company urges residents to stay at least 30 feet away and call 911 to report the fallen wires. Do not attempt to move a fallen power line, the company said.
To prepare for a severe winter storm, Central Hudson issued the following recommendations:
- Fully charge your cell phone.
- Have flashlights and batteries handy.
- If you rely on electricity to operate a well pump, ensure you have an adequate supply of bottled water. Fill your bathtub for an extra water reserve.
- Ensure adequate supplies of prescription medicine and other necessities.
- Fuel up your vehicle.
- Have a plan to check on vulnerable neighbors and family members.
- Have non-perishable foods that require no refrigeration or cooking in the event power goes out.
- Sign up to receive text messages from your utility company to receive updates about power outages and restoration work.