Winter Storm Warning: Over a Foot of Snow Predicted (Dec. 1-2)

Well, it's official. NWS Albany could wait no longer and at a little before 4 AM, they upgraded the Winter Storm Watch to a full-blown Winter Storm Warning.

Image courtesy of WNYT Channel 13 Albany.

A few things changed, all to the better. First, the storm window is now from 11 AM Sunday to 7 AM Tuesday. This a big development. For one, it helps anyone traveling back home or back to college. And two, it means that a Tuesday delay or snow day is now in play. (Are we getting greedy with this storm? Perhaps.) The second change was an upgrade of the amount of snow--we're now in the 12 to 24 inch range. And the third change was the mention of wind--gusts to 35 mph--which will create blizzard-like conditions on Monday.

If you've done any digging yourself on this storm, you'll hear that it isn't one big storm but two moderate storms. The first part will impact us Sunday and Sunday night with 4-8 inches of snow. And then phase two--the coastal low--kicks in Monday morning and that part of the storm will bring an additional 6-12 inches of snow. Add it all together and we probably will see a foot of snow in most places, with the east-facing slopes of the Berkshires much closer to 18 inches.

That's a lot of school-cancelling snow. (NWS Albany)

Part one of the storm alone would have created a good chance for snow days on Monday, but now with the forecast threat of an all-day snow on Monday, we simply don't see too many Superintendents deciding to risk it. Things can certainly change--it's the weather after all--but this storm is looking like a big one. Get out the tall snow boots, and that homework you were putting off until Sunday can probably wait until Monday.