Have Fun Now, Winter is on It’s Way

We here in the Hudson Valley are currently experiencing the better parts of Fall. The air is getting cooler, all the tree leaves are changing color and falling, Halloween is right around the corner and sports fans have a full buffet of games to watch every day. That doesn't mean we should be complacent though, Winter is getting closer every day and we all know too well what Winter is like in the Hudson Valley.

 Earliest Snow of the Season in the Hudson Valley

In the Hudson Valley, it is not uncommon for the first snowfall of the season to happen before Winter has even officially begun. I myself can remember at least a couple of snowy Halloween celebrations. Though early snowfalls like that are the exception not the rule, the point of the matter is that it is possible for snow now exists. Weather Channel records show that for the Hudson Valley, the earliest recorded snowfall was on October 4, 1987. Though typically early snowfall doesn't amount to much in accumulation, doesn't mean it can't be significant.

Heaviest Snow on Record in the Hudson Valley

Every year, Hudson Valley winters present great challenges. From the typical cold and blistering wind that always seems to find a way to get through your coat to navigating all of our roads at 5 mph and needing to calculate just how much earlier we'll have to set our alarms in the morning for work travel.

To put it simply, Winter sucks. It may have some charm but in most years, it's a battle to survive. In our immediate area, Dutchess, Orange, Rockland, Putnam, Ulster and Westchester Counties all have record snowfalls of above 25 inches. Ulster County just in 2010 had a record 29 inches of snowfall with one particular storm. The NY record for most snowfall was in Oneida County, which received 50 inches back in 1966. If this doesn't emphasize what Winter in the Hudson Valley is like, I don't know what will.

My intention here is not to bum out everyone. I want everyone to enjoy the fall. See as many concerts as you can, go to festivals, pick your apples and carve your pumpkins, and have as great a time as you can. Just remember we can't escape it, Winter is on its way. It's best we all be prepared.