More snow on the way today

PHOTOGRAPHER: Edward Munger Jr.

The early snowfall that hit the region Thursday was just a precursor for a storm expected to drop several inches of wet snow on the region today, according to the National Weather Service.

Meteorologists are forecasting 4 to 8 inches for the Albany area and as many as 10 inches or more in higher elevations, along with strong winds in the evening.

The large storm is expected to affect the entire Northeast, with the potential for widespread rain from central Virginia to eastern Massachusetts, including the Interstate 95 corridor from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia, New York City and Boston, followed by a changeover to snow, according to accuweather.com.

Authorities were warning local residents in mountainous areas Friday to be prepared for possible power outages, while state police issued an advisory with one main message for motorists: slow down.

The snow won’t be as thick as the wet fluff that fell Thursday, but it will be heavy.

“It definitely will have some weight to it,” National Weather Service meteorologist Brian Frugis said.

Today’s storm is expected to start off as a mix of rain and snow in the late morning and then turn to all snow.

“It should come down at a pretty good rate,” Frugis said.

Winds of 5 to 10 mph during the day are expected to increase to 15 mph during the evening, with gusts up to 25 mph. Temperatures are expected to range from a low of 28 to a high of 36.

A total of 1.6 inches of snow fell at the Albany International Airport on Thursday, the most that’s fallen there on Oct. 27 since records dating back to 1974.

“It is quite early,” said Mike Pigott, a meteorologist at accuweather.com, who said the fact that many trees in the Capital Region still have their leaves could cause issues.

“I do think there’s going to be problems with broken limbs and power outages,” Pigott said.

The storm will be heading in a northeasterly direction, so it’s likely the Capital Region will only get hit with the northern fringes, Frugus said.

“We’re kind of on the edge of the storm.”

National Grid has been monitoring the weather in preparation for the chance crews will have to be mobilized, according to an email from company spokesman Patrick Stella.

“We are prepared,” Stella wrote. “We have our full contingent of crews in eastern NY ready to mobilize. We also have additional contract crews on standby ready to respond.”

State officials held an emergency conference call Friday to coordinate storm preparations, according to a news release from the office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo urged residents to prepare.

“Measures taken now, such as ensuring emergency supplies are on hand, listening to local weather alerts and having an emergency plan, can save lives. I also encourage motorists to stay off the road during inclement weather,” Cuomo said.

State police on Friday were urging motorists to take precautions in the event they have to go out in the storm.

“A significant number of traffic crashes occur on the ice, snow and wet roadways simply because motorists are driving too fast for the conditions or are following the vehicle in front of them too closely,” state police Major William S. Sprague said in a news release.

The storm isn’t expected to put much of a damper on today’s start of the 25th annual Head of the Fish regatta, an event expected to draw more than 12,000 rowers and guests to the Saratoga area. Kim Grieco, one of the event’s organizers, said most of those planning to attend had already arrived by late Friday, so travel shouldn’t be an issue.

Competitors aren’t fazed by the snow anyway, she said.

“Rowers are kind of crazy. They row unless there’s ice on the water,” Grieco said.

Meteorologists said the weather is expected to clear up starting Sunday and should remain dry through Thursday.