Weather in New York: A winter weather warning is in effect for New York until 1 a.m. Friday – up to 20 cm of snow

The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory at 3:53 a.m. Wednesday that is in effect for Washington, Greene and Ulster counties from 1 p.m. through 1 a.m. Friday.

“Total snow accumulations between 3 and 8 inches, locally higher amounts above 1,500 feet. Wind gusts up to 40 miles per hour,” the weather service says. “Snow will spread west to east across the area this afternoon and continue into Thursday morning, then transition to lake effect snow showers Thursday afternoon into Thursday night. Localized snow squalls may be possible Thursday morning. Gusty winds on Thursday could lead to blowing snow.

“Expect slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact Thursday morning commutes,” the weather service added. “Slow down and be careful when driving. For current road conditions for the state you are calling from, call 5 1 1.”

Travel safely on winter roads: winter driving tips from the weather service

Winter weather can make driving treacherous, leading to over 6,000 weather-related traffic accidents and over 480,000 injuries each year. If you are driving in snow or freezing rain, prioritize safety and drive slower. When temperatures are near freezing, it’s safest to assume the roads are icy and adjust your driving accordingly. Be careful of ice accumulating on power lines or tree branches, which can lead to breakage and fall hazards. If possible, avoid driving in such conditions. If you must venture out, opt for routes with fewer trees and power lines. Never touch a downed power line and call 911 immediately if you encounter one. Here are more tips for driving in winter weather:

Share your travel plans:

If you are heading out of town in dangerous winter weather, be sure to let family or friends know your destination, planned route and expected arrival time.

Prepare your vehicle:

Make sure your gas tank is full and stock your vehicle with winter essentials such as a window scraper, jumper cables, a small shovel, a flashlight, a cell phone, a blanket, extra warm clothing, drinking water and high-calorie, non-perishable foods.

Stay calm when stranded:

If you get stuck, stay calm. Tell someone about your situation and location. Do not attempt to reach safety on foot. Indicate that you need help by attaching a cloth to your car’s antenna or mirror and make your vehicle more visible by using the dome light and turn signals

Beware of snow plows:

Keep an eye out for snow plows and make sure they have enough room to overtake. Only overtake a plow when you have a clear view of the road.

Check road conditions:

Before you travel, find out about current road conditions so you can make informed travel decisions.

Stay safe on winter roads with the Weather Service’s valuable winter driving tips and reduce the risk of accidents in difficult weather conditions.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service from United Robots that uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.