Winter storm alerts in effect for parts of Upstate NY for heavy snow

Syracuse, N.Y. — Winter storm alerts have been issued for parts of Upstate New York as a storm brings rain to valleys and potentially heavy snow to hilltops.
The heaviest snow is likely to fall on hills from southern Madison County to the Southern Tier.
A winter storm warning, the highest level of alert, is in effect from 4 p.m. today to 4 p.m. Friday for Broome, Delaware and Sullivan counties in New York and much of northeastern Pennsylvania.
“Travel could be very difficult, especially with snowfallrates of 1-3 inches per hour in spots overnight,” the National Weather Service said.
Up to a foot of heavy snow could fall in those areas tonight and into Friday. The snow is likely to be very wet, which could down wires and cause power outages.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has banned empty commercial vehicles from I-81 starting at 5 p.m. today.
Upstate New York cities along the I-90 corridor from Buffalo to Albany are likely to see only rain because temperatures will stay above freezing, the weather service said. The air will be cold enough tonight and Friday above 1,500 feet for snow to develop.
Rain is expected to continue through Saturday. One to 2 inches could fall across most of Upstate, with the lower Hudson Valley seeing close to 3 inches.
That would be a welcome relief and would help ease, although likely not end, a severe drought that has hit the southeastern corner of New York state.