Flood Watches In Effect Across The Hudson Valley

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Scattered showers and thunderstorms will produce heavy rainfall across the Hudson Valley Wednesday, which could result in local rainfall rates up to 1 to 2 inches per hour at times.

Total rainfall amounts will range from 1 to 3 inches.

Some of that fell before dawn, but flood watches are in effect until 6 p.m. for Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Ulster and Westchester counties.

Communities receiving multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms with heavy rain have a chance for flash flooding in low-lying, poor drainage and urban areas, the National Weather Service warned. The NWS recommended you should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings.

However, the forecast now shows conditions will be less stormy than predicted, said the folks at Hudson Valley Weather.

"How fast things can change!" said Todd Snow after reviewing the latest weather data and computer models. "Breaking it down, some areas are and will still receive some severe weather, but more isolated than widespread."

Here are the next 48 hours at a glance, based on Katonah:

The storms are ushering in a cold front. In fact, temperatures may not hit 70 on Friday. The warmest day in the next five days will be on Sunday.

• Wednesday - Showers and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly before 2pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. High near 74. South wind around 6 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
• Tonight - A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 57. North wind 3 to 7 mph.
• Thursday - Sunny, with a high near 71. Northwest wind 6 to 9 mph.
• Thursday Night - Mostly clear, with a low around 52. North wind around 9 mph.
• Friday - Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. North wind 9 to 11 mph.
• Friday Night - Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.
• Saturday - Partly sunny, with a high near 72.
• Saturday Night - Partly cloudy, with a low around 54.
• Sunday - Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.
• Sunday Night - Partly cloudy, with a low around 57.