Tuesday's storm is looking more like a rain event for most. Here's the First Alert Forecast.
The CBS News New York First Alert Weather Team has issued a First Alert Weather Day for Tuesday due to a coastal storm that will bring heavy rain and snow to parts of the region.
A Winter Storm Watch will be in place for Sullivan, Ulster, Dutchess, Orange and Sussex counties from late Monday night through Tuesday evening.
Signs in Orange County warn to avoid unnecessary travel.
"Slow down. Make sure you're clearing your roof of any snow, so it's not potentially causing a hazard for cars traveling behind you," said Pete Cirigliano, commissioner of the Orange County Department of Emergency Services.
Tuesday forecast
The first winter storm of the season moves in for Tuesday. Forecast models have now come to a consensus that it will be mostly a rainstorm for a large portion of the Tri-State Area.
However, a plowable snowfall is anticipated in the northwestern suburbs of New York City. Though not the strongest storm to affect the area, it is likely to cause travel delays and lead to dangerous driving conditions.
New Jersey will enter a State of Emergency beginning at 5 a.m. across Hunterdon, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, and Warren counties, Gov. Phil Murphy said.
"Starting early tomorrow morning, we will experience potentially significant winter weather resulting in hazardous conditions in the northwestern part of our state," Murphy said, adding, "I urge all drivers in these areas to exercise caution, remain alert, and follow all safety protocols."
Following the storm, a cold pattern will settle into place through next weekend, right on par with the arrival of December.
Breaking it down: 6-10 a.m.
As the coastal storm moves up the Mid-Atlantic coastline, precipitation will move into our region. Initially, it will be on the light side, but as the morning progresses, it will become heavier.
The rain/snow line will already be north and west of New York City, so for points south and east, just plain rain is expected. For areas north and west, especially northwest of I-78, all snow is expected. In between the rain/snow line, some mixed precipitation is possible.
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
This will be the prime time of the storm. The rain/snow line will shift farther northwest, to around I-78, or so. Rain will come down heavy at times. For areas northwest of I-78, the snow will get heavy as well, with rates of 1-2 inches per hour possible at times. Winds will also pick up, especially at the coast, where gusts may be in the 25-35 mph range.
5 p.m.-8 p.m.
The storm will start winding down. Precipitation ends from west to east, and may even end as snow in the city. However, no accumulation is expected. Final snow totals could range between 4-8 inches for the northwestern portions of the Hudson Valley, as well as northwestern New Jersey.
The lower Hudson Valley, the rest of northern New Jersey and western Connecticut may get between 1-3 inches. The snow that does fall will be heavy and wet, so caution will be needed for those who plan to shovel. Elsewhere, little to no accumulation of snow is expected. For all locations that receive mainly rain, 1-2 inches are possible.