The daffodils are going to have a hard few days.
The rain Tuesday will turn to sleet Wednesday, then a wintery mix Wednesday night, then snow Thursday, Friday and into Saturday, before becoming rain again, the National Weather Service at Binghamton reported.
At the end of all that, the weather service expects the greater Cortland area will see 1 to 2 inches of rain, 3 to 4 inches of snow, an awful lot of slop and probably a sore back from trying to get it all off the driveway.
That brings with it a flood watch for much of Central New York, the Southern Tier and northeast Pennsylvania, including Cortland and Tompkins counties,
Oh, and don’t forget the winds: gusting 35 to 50 mph on Wednesday, just to send a tree limb or two strolling across the yard, or perhaps over a power line.
“Despite early signs of spring, we are closely monitoring a storm system that is expected to bring heavy snow, rain and gale force winds to parts of our state,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in warning of the storm. “It is critical that New Yorkers monitor their local forecasts and take proper precautions as the weather unfolds. I have directed state agencies to make the necessary preparations and to engage with local partners as we prepare for the conditions to come.”
Travel will likely be hazardous, her office warned, especially during the Wednesday and Thursday commutes, and areas receiving heavy, wet snow could see isolated power outages.
The warning comes with the usual litany of advice that one has come to expect from a winter storm — even it does come in April:
•Avoid unnecessary travel, and make sure you have basic roadside survival gear if you do travel.
•Prepare for a power outage. Refrigerators and freezers can maintain temperature for about a day if kept closed.
•If you have an alternative means of heat, use it safely. Do not burn charcoal indoors, and do not use a gas stove for heat.
•If you use a kerosene heater, follow the manufacturer’s instructions, use the correct fuel, re-fuel it outdoors and keep it at least 3 feet from anything flammable.
The slow-moving front should pass on by the weekend, and while forecasts are preliminary, expect the weather to be mostly sunny with a high of 54 on Monday, just in time for the eclipse.
