Winter Storm Warning for Hudson Valley: Orange County Faces Snow, Strong Winds

National Weather Service winter storm warnings and blizzard warnings were issued Saturday as a powerful nor’easter is forecast to pound the Hudson Valley beginning Sunday, bringing heavy snow to Orange County and gusty winds that could reduce visibility and make travel dangerous. Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency covering 22 counties beginning the morning of Feb. 22 and activated resources statewide.

State guidance and emergency actions are in place: Gov. Hochul said the forecast “shifted dramatically” in the prior 24 hours and warned New Yorkers to prepare, saying “This could be an historic storm and the vulnerability is great. The possibility of flooding is significant, so we're encouraging people to vacate from those areas and be prepared for a very, very dangerous situation.” The governor’s office also reported the activation of 100 National Guard members and said “more than 5,600 utility workers are on standby across the state to engage in damage assessment, response, repair, and restoration efforts.”

Forecast totals vary by source and location. The governor’s statewide guidance lists 12–18 inches for the Hudson Valley while a separate governor bulletin noted 10–15 inches specifically for Northern Westchester, Rockland, Orange and Putnam counties. CBS New York cited 12–18 inches for Northern Westchester, Rockland, Orange and Putnam, while Syracuse’s NWS-derived forecast called for 8–14 inches in Greene, Columbia, Ulster and Dutchess counties with locally higher amounts in the Catskills and snowfall rates that “may exceed one inch per hour late Sunday night into Monday morning.”

Wind forecasts differ by jurisdiction: Mid-Hudson News advised Orange County residents to expect gusts up to 40 mph Sunday night, Syracuse and CBS noted gusts as high as 45 mph in parts of the region, and the governor’s materials warned that winds have the potential to reach 60 mph in New York City and on Long Island, creating whiteout or blizzard-like conditions. Local official warnings already include winter storm warnings for Orange County and surrounding Hudson Valley zones.

Local travel restrictions and safety orders are being enforced in some areas. CBS quoted Romaine saying, “This has the potential to become a serious storm... And then we're gonna get heavy winds, which would create blizzard conditions.” Romaine also said, “Now we have issued a travel ban, but I would tell everyone, please stay off the roads. Do not plan to travel. Do NOT plan to travel.” Mid-Hudson News urged residents to avoid travel if possible, especially Sunday night, and noted daytime highs near the lower 30s with overnight lows in the mid- to upper-20s.

Officials are preparing for power outages and downed limbs. Syracuse warned that “heavy wet snow and gusty winds could lead to some downed tree limbs and power outages.” The governor’s office emphasized utility staging and National Guard support and provided a practical signup: “New Yorkers Can Sign Up for Weather and Emergency Alerts by Texting 333111.”

Warning windows differ across published products: Mid-Hudson News printed a Winter Storm Warning “in effect from 6 a.m. Sunday, February 22, through 6 p.m. Monday, February 24,” while Syracuse cited an NWS product released at 12:34 p.m. Saturday valid Sunday 1 p.m. to Monday 7 p.m. for Greene, Columbia, Ulster and Dutchess counties. Residents in Orange County should follow their local emergency management and the NWS zone products for the exact valid times and any municipal orders as the storm intensifies Sunday night into Monday morning.