[Updated] Peekskill Officials Urge Residents to Limit Travel

Updated, 6 p.m.: Editor's Note:

Editor's Note: The following release was submitted by the City of Peekskill. If you would like to post your news to Patch, click here.

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As a powerful winter storm takes aim at the Northeast, The City of Peekskill urges residents to heed caution and make necessary preparations. The strong Nor’easter that hit the city late this afternoon, will bring high winds and a few slippery inches of snow and ice before changing to all rain overnight.  Crews are out clearing roads and sidewalks and additional public safety personnel are on standby. 

“In addition to creating hazardous travel conditions, this storm is expected to bring heavy winds to Peekskill that could down tree limbs and cause widespread power outages in the region,” says Mary F. Foster, Mayor of the City of Peekskill.  “We’re urging residents to secure trash cans, holiday decorations, and other outdoor items to prevent damage and injury,” she notes. 

At 1:00 p.m. today, the National Weather Service issued a Winter Weather Advisory lasting through 6:00 a.m. Thursday for Northern Westchester County calling for snow and ice this evening through late tonight with snow accumulating to 2 to 4 inches and about a tenth of an inch of ice.  Sustained winds are projected to be between 20 and 30 M.P.H. with strong gusts up to 50 M.P.H.  The advisory also warns that snow and ice accumulations will make for dangerous travel into Thursday morning and that strong winds could down ice-covered tree limbs, power lines, and holiday decorations and cause minor damage and power outages. 

“We urge motorists to limit travel and for residents to check on their neighbors, especially the elderly as overnight temperatures will be near freezing.  In the event of an emergency, please call 9-1-1,” says Mayor Foster. 

For updates from the city throughout the storm, please tune in to local media or follow the City’s Twitter feed at Twitter.com/cityofpeekskill

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The National Weather Service has issued a local winter weather advisory over the Nor'easter expected to hit the area Wednesday night through Thursday.

However, the heavy snow, blizzard conditions, severe thunderstorms and cyclones moving from the Southeast through the Ohio Valley are expected to be far worse in Western New York than east of the Hudson River.

Snow accumulation here could reach 2-4 inches, along with a tenth of an inch of ice. 

"Snow and ice accumulation will make for dangerous travel this afternoon and evening," said the NWS.

The forecast calls for rain, snow and sleet after 3 p.m. Wednesday. The high should be near 31 degrees, and it will be breezy with an east wind 10 to 14 mph, with gust as high as 32 mph.

The weather service said there is a 100 percent chance of precipitation, with a daytime snow and sleet accumulation of 1 to 3 inches.

Snow, freezing rain, and sleet will continue Wednesday night, and it could be heavy at times. The temperature will fall to around 29 degrees. It will continue to be windy. Winds will be from the east at 21 to 30 mph. Gusts could get as high as 55 mph. New snow and sleet accumulation of 2 to 4 inches is possible.

Thursday's forecast calls for rain before noon. The temperature will rise to near 43, though winds will stay strong at 14 to 16 mph from the northeast, with gusts as high as 32 mph.

Mostly cloudy skies will stay around during early Thursday evening, after which there will be gradual clearing with a low around 26 and northwest winds from 11 to 15 mph.

Cautious driving is strongly urged.