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A late-winter storm is set to make the afternoon and evening commute messy and potentially dangerous for drivers across the Albany area on Tuesday (March 3), with a slippery mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain expected to coat untreated roads and surfaces.
According to NEWS10 ABC meteorologist Kevin Appleby, snow will spread across the Capital Region around noon, arriving from the southwest and moving northeast into early afternoon. The real concern, Appleby notes, is what happens next — a transition to sleet and freezing rain is expected before temperatures climb above freezing, making roads slick during the heart of the evening rush.
A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for much of the region from the Mohawk Valley southward. Areas south of Interstate 90 may see plain rain showers by evening as temperatures rise, but the window of icy mix before that warmth arrives is what has forecasters on alert.
Spectrum News reports that the Capital Region and lower Hudson Valley can expect one to three inches of snow, with higher totals in the hills to the north. Snow totals overall are expected to be low, but the combination of snow and an icy mix may leave untreated surfaces dangerous through the afternoon commute and into the overnight hours.
Drivers heading out during the afternoon and evening hours should allow extra travel time, watch for icy patches on bridges and overpasses, and be prepared for rapidly changing road conditions. Precipitation is expected to taper off after midnight, with dry conditions returning by Wednesday (March 4) morning.
The stormy day is a sharp contrast to what comes next. A significant warm-up is on the way for the second half of the week, with temperatures pushing into the 60s Thursday and Friday, and highs near 70 possible by the weekend — a welcome preview of spring for the region. Residents can hear the latest watches, warnings, and forecasts on NewsRadio 103.1 / 810 WGY.