A cold front moved across the region Wednesday, December 10th ushering in a cold airmass back into the region. A low pressure system developed over the southeastern states Wednesday and Wednesday night. This storm then headed northeast Thursday and Thursday night with precipitation spreading northward well in advance of the low. The low continued to track northeast passing over the mid Atlantic region late Thursday night and over the New York Metropolitan area and southern New England Friday morning. The low moved to the Canadian Maritimes Friday night.

As the storm approached warmer air moved in aloft and with a cold airmass in place at the surface, this set the stage for a mixed precipitation event. The precipitation came down heavy at times, especially Thursday night. Hourly precipitation rates of quarter to a third of an inch were reported for several hours in the form freezing rain across much of the forecast area. Thunder was even reported in Glens Falls. By the time the precipitation tapered off Friday morning ice accumulations ranged from around half of an inch up to an inch across portions of the Capital District and the Berkshires. North and west of the Capital District temperatures were colder and frozen precipitation fell. Snowfall reports ranged from 2 to 4 inches just north and west of the Capital District, where sleet mixed in along with lesser ice accumulations, up to 8 to 12 inches across portions of the southern Adirondacks.

Across the central and southeastern Catskills, mid Hudson Valley into the Berkshires and Litchfield County heavy rainfall, 2 to 4 inches, lead to widespread urban and small stream flooding with some river flooding. River flooding was observed on the Hoosic River, Esopus Creek, Housatonic River, Batten Kill, Still River and Wappingers Creek. The Housatonic River reached moderate flooding levels at Falls Village, Gaylordsville and at Stevenson Dam.

In the wake of the storm, temperatures tumbling Friday night with teens across much of the local area, single digits across the higher terrain and even below zero temperatures across portions of the Adirondacks. There was little recovery on Saturday as arctic high pressure crested over the region. Temperatures began to moderate Sunday as the high shifted offshore and winds become southerly.

There was widespread tree and power line damage across the local area. An estimated 350,000 utility customers lost power across East Central New York and adjacent western New England. Over 60,000 customers were still out of power Monday morning, December 15th and over 10,000 customers were still out of power Wednesday morning, December 17th.

12Z Dec 11
7 am EST Dec 11

18Z Dec 11
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00Z Dec 12
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12Z Dec 12
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