Snow, freezing rain, ice forecast

ALBANY — In standard upstate New York fashion, the warm weather of last week was not going to last. After all, it is February. Two storm systems will be hitting the Capital Region this week — one that will be largely rain and snow showers Tuesday night, and another that will bring possibly treacherous, icy conditions Wednesday night into Thursday’s commute.

For Tuesday night, there is no snow expected for the Albany area — but between 3 to 4 inches of snow could fall in the Catskill and Adirondack mountains. “The event doesn’t look super, super impactful in the immediate Capital District,” said Michael Main, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Albany.

However, the Wednesday system — which is part of a massive storm that will bring significant snow to the Midwest this week — will bring snow, sleet and freezing rain to the region. Meteorologists say that could mean icy conditions during Thursday’s morning commute. The evening drive that day could also be impacted, Main said.

The weather service said the forecast is too dynamic to predict possible snow totals for Wednesday’s system, although the Adirondacks and southern Vermont would have the highest totals.

“Even though we’re not forecasting high snow amounts ... ice could lead to a pretty slippery morning commute Thursday,” Main said.

It’s early, but there is possibly more precipitation on tap for next week, too.

“Overall we’re in an active weather pattern. There are a lot of disturbances in the atmosphere,” Main said.