Blizzard to bring up to 2 feet of snow to Dutchess

With up to two feet of snow forecast to fall on Dutchess County Tuesday, several school districts have canceled Wednesday classes preemptively, while the City of Poughkeepsie and City of Beacon have both announced emergency measures.

Local agencies are urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel. The snow is predicted to make commuting difficult on the road or through public transportation. Bus service in the City of Poughkeepsie is canceled for Tuesday. Both Dutchess County and the Metropolitan Transit Authority held off on making changes to its services Monday, but warned of possible changes to its schedules.

Residents can expect a total of 18 to 24 inches of snow to fall Tuesday, beginning around 3 a.m., according to Brian Frugis, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Albany. Dutchess County will be under a blizzard warning starting midnight Tuesday through midnight Wednesday.

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While the snow will “come in light, it will get heavy by sunrise,” said Steve DiRienzo, a meteorologist with the weather service.

To be classified as a blizzard, the combination of snow and gusty winds must be able to reduce visibility to under one-quarter mile for three hours or more, Frugis said.

"That's the bare minimum to be called a blizzard, though it is likely to last longer than that," Frugis said.

At its heaviest, snow will likely fall between one and three inches per hour. Winds gusts may reach up to 36 miles per hour.

As of late Monday, all public school districts in Dutchess County had announced closings for Tuesday. Highland, Marlboro and New Paltz were also announced to be closed. Dutchess Community College will be closed both Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the school. Other colleges closed Tuesday are Marist, SUNY New Paltz and the Culinary Institute of America.

The Town of Poughkeepsie is doing “everything we possibly can” to prepare for the storm, according to Marc Pfeifer, superintendent of highways.

Pfeifer said the salt trucks are loaded and plows are ready for early Tuesday morning, working to stay ahead of the snowfall as they "prepare for the worst, and hope for the best.

“You don’t want to have it where you can’t push it (with the plows),” he said. “It’s tough. Our guys stay out there as long as we can safely see.”

While it the snow is predicted to taper off in Dutchess County around 7 p.m., continuous snow showers are expected throughout Wednesday, leaving another inch of snow across the county, DiRienzo said. And as the next few days will see temperatures in the 20s, the snow will likely not melt anytime soon.

Emergencies declared

Dutchess County will determine whether to declare a state of emergency at 5 a.m. Tuesday, and the announcement may include travel restrictions, according to Colleen Pillus, communications director for the Dutchess County Executive's office.

"This is expected to be a very significant storm and is important for residents to be prepared," Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro said. "Dutchess County Government is ready to address impacts of the storm as it occurs, and residents should be proactive in making plans to be prepared as well, should travel restrictions be put in place or power outages occur."

Ulster County Executive Mike Hein announced that his county will be under a state of emergency from midnight Tuesday until 8 p.m. Tuesday, with the potential to be extended further.

"My first and foremost goal is the safety of all Ulster County residents," Hein said in a statement. "Our DPW crews are always prepared and I am certain they will meet any challenge head on."

The county cancelled Dial-A-Ride and Flex services for Tuesday, and changes to bus services will be posted to dutchessny.gov/loop.htm. Senior Friendship Centers will be closed Tuesday and home-delivered meals were cancelled. Additional meals were delivered on Monday to make up for the cancellation. Updates will be posted to dutchessny.gov, as well as the county's Facebook and Twitter.

The City of Poughkeepsie declared a snow emergency beginning midnight Tuesday. The snow emergency will remain effect until further notice, according to a statement from the mayor's office.

The city bus service has been canceled for Tuesday, and will be canceled until further notice. Sanitation and recycling will be canceled from Tuesday to Wednesday, and will resume as scheduled on Thursday.

During a snow emergency in the city, vehicles are required to be removed from streets that are designated as a snow emergency route. Vehicles that are parked on snow emergency routes during a declared snow emergency are subject to ticketing, towing or impounding at the vehicle owner’s expense.

The mayor's office reminds residents to try and wait until plow equipment has come through on their street before clearing driveways, and that residents and business owners must clear sidewalks in front of and adjacent to their residences and businesses, as required by the city ordinance. Placing snow into any roadway is a violation of the City of Poughkeepsie Code of Ordinances, as is not clearing snow from around fire hydrants.

The City of Beacon declared a state of emergency effective midnight Tuesday, and it will remain in effect for five days or until rescinded, according to a release from the city.

As part of the order, vehicles are prohibited from travelling in the city or parking on city streets.

A number of other towns announced closings and cancellations. In the Village of Wappingers Falls, village offices will be closed Tuesday. Village of Fishkill offices will also be closed.

The Red Hook Town Board meeting scheduled for Tuesday has been canceled, and Town Hall will be closed. The town's recycling center will be closed on Wednesday. The Town of Clinton town board meeting has also been postponed.

Around the state

State officials will announce at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday whether Metro-North trains will run as scheduled during the impending nor'easter storm, according Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

A "total shutdown" of the Metro-North and Long Island Rail Roads is possible, Cuomo said.

"If it is what they forecast,  then it would be problematic to operate the railroad — LIRR and Metro-North," Cuomo told reporters on a Monday conference call.

Cuomo warned against any unnecessary travel Tuesday. He told all non-essential state employees to remain home, except in the North Country, where snowfall forecasts are lighter.

He also warned drivers to be alert for potential road closures.

In the past, Cuomo's administration has shut down portions of the Thruway and Interstate 84 during major snow storms.

Cuomo activated the State Emergency Operations Center for Monday evening, and state agencies have already pre-positioned personnel, assets, and state stockpile resources — including sandbags, generators and pumps — to areas of the state where the storm will be strongest.

The New York State Thruway Authority’s winter weather preparations include a 24-hour staff rotation for maintenance personnel, snow removal equipment ready for deployment, and ample salt and fuel supplies to keep the roadways clear and safe. The DOT boasts 3,847 operators and supervisors statewide, ready to respond with more than 1,800 plows and hundreds of other pieces of equipment to combat the storm. The Thruway Authority had 592 supervisors and operators, plus more than 300 plows and 114,800 tons of road salt.

State police will deploy additional patrols and resources, including 4-by-4 vehicles, all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles.

Tips for power outages

Officials with Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation are advising local residents to be prepared, as the company itself prepares for heavy snowfall. Officials said they are completing all stages of preparation for a major storm emergency, including the confirmation of all necessary resources.

“While we invest year round in our infrastructure and in programs to remove trees and other vegetation from our lines, heavy snow, high winds and/or icing all have the potential to impact our facilities in a storm of this magnitude," said Charles A. Freni, senior vice president of customer services and transmission and distribution.

Officials encourage residents to keep electronic devices charged, keep flashlights and fresh batteries handy, and have a battery-powered radio to keep informed. They also advise that canned and packaged foods should be kept at hand, along with a non-electric can opener and bottles of water. Residents should avoid opening the refrigerator during power outages, so that the food lasts longer. ​

“Remember to never use outdoor gas or charcoal grills indoors," Freni said. "They pose a fire hazard, and over time can give off deadly carbon monoxide gas. Use these appliances only outdoors with proper ventilation." He also said customers should know how to open their garage door manually if they usually rely on an electrically operated, remote-control door opener.

Central Hudson offers these safety tips for customers:

• Stay at least 30 feet away from downed power lines, and remember that lines may be entangled and hidden in fallen trees. Assume all downed lines are live. 
• Beware of fallen trees and limbs, and use caution or traveling.
• Avoid the use of candles for illumination due to fire hazards.
• Follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions on the use of emergency generators, and be sure to shut off the main breaker when in use and operate the units outdoors. 
• Operate cars and motor vehicles outdoors only, and never inside the garage.
• Stay in touch with Central Hudson by visiting CentralHudson.com, on Facebook at Facebook.com/Central Hudson, and on Twitter at Twitter.com/Central Hudson. Customers can also call the the Central Hudson PowerLine at 845-452-2700 or 1-800-527-2714 and use the automated system to report or monitor your power condition. To enroll in Central Hudson’s Texting Program to use text messaging to report power conditions and to obtain repair status, visit www.CentralHudson.com/Alerts or text REG to 236483.

Travel tips

State police Troop K, which covers Dutchess, Columbia, Putnam and Westchester counties, is encouraging drivers to avoid unnecessary travel during the storm.

State police said the combination of low visibility and slippery roadways because of the heavy snowfall will result in treacherous conditions. Strong winds causing blowing and drifting snow will also create dangerous roadways, and drivers should use extreme caution when traveling, police said.

If you must travel, state police offer these safety tips:

• Tune in to local radio and news outlets for road closures before you travel.
• Slow down.  
• Allow extra time for your commute.
• Before driving your vehicle, clean snow and ice from the windows, headlights, and tail lights
• Leave extra space between you and the vehicle in front of you.
• Make sure your car is stocked with survival gear like blankets, shovel, flashlight with batteries, extra warm clothing, snacks, and jumper cables.
• Keep your gas tank as full as possible in the event that you are stranded or stuck in traffic.
• Make sure someone knows your travel plans and routes.
• For road conditions, traffic, travel and transit info, use http://511ny.org/ or call 511.
• Follow road closures and weather alerts on http://www.nyalert.gov/

Abbott Brant: abrant@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-437-4809, Twitter: @AbbottBrantPoJo