ALERTS:

Winter Storm Warning for Western Ulster County in effect until Saturday at 1 a.m.

Winter Weather Advisory for Orange, Rockland, Putnam and North Westchester counties in effect now until Friday at 10 a.m.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

An early winter storm has got a little bit of everything coming to the Hudson Valley. Rain moved in overnight into Thursday and was scattered through the midday hours. Batches of moderate to heavy rain are moving in for this evening and as the temperatures get colder, there will be a change over to a wintry mix and then snow. Who sees what and how much adds up depends on where you are in the region. A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for North Westchester, Orange, Rockland and Putnam counties, where a coating to 2 inches is possible, but isolated areas could get 2-4 inches. That is mainly for the elevated surfaces and less urban areas. The less traveled roads could see that coating stick down overnight into Friday morning.

To the north, in western Ulster County is a Winter Storm Warning, where the highest snowfall totals in the region will be found. There is a good chance of seeing at least 6 inches, but some higher elevations of the Catskills could get close to a foot. This is welcome news to the ski resorts over that way, as well as for the reservoirs across the region. After not seeing significant shower activity in months, a couple inches of rain in addition to a fresh snowpack, will allow that moisture to slowly seep into the dry grounds and also add up in the reservoirs. There are still burn bans in effect across the state, and we're still in a severe drought, but this moisture goes a long way to help remove the region from a very dry situation.

Gusty winds will be around through Friday and into the weekend as well. This large storm system will do a "loop-de-loop" over the tri-state area through that time frame, and while the precipitation will gradually fade through the day on Friday, the winds will linger.

After the weekend, there is another chance for showers Tuesday and then potentially another one Thanksgiving Day into Friday. We went from having week after week of sunshine and warmth to now multiple systems bringing showers and a cooldown. Mother Nature really did flip the switch on us.

FALL FOLIAGE COLORS:

All of the Hudson Valley is past peak.

DROUGHT MONITOR:

There is a Severe Drought (a 3 out of 5 on our scale) across all our counties. There hasn't been significant measurable rain in over two months.

TROPICS: There are no systems being monitored by the National Hurricane Center.

10-DAY FORECAST:

OVERNIGHT: Wintry mix to snow for many. Accumulation is likely north and west of Westchester County. Lows: Mid-30s.

FRIDAY: STORM WATCH - Cloudy with a chance for mixed showers to snow and breezy winds. Highs: Upper 30s to low 40s. Lows: Mid-30s.

SATURDAY: Mix of sun and clouds with windy conditions at times. Highs: Upper 40s. Lows: Upper 30s to low 40s.

SUNDAY: Mix of sun and clouds and windy. Highs: Upper 40s to low 50s. Lows: Mid-30s.

MONDAY: Mix of sun and clouds with a breeze at times. Highs: Low 50s. Lows: Upper 30s to low 40s.

TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy with a chance for rain. Highs: Low to mid-50s. Lows: Mid-30s.

WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Highs: Mid-40s. Lows: Low 30s.

THURSDAY: THANKSGIVING - Weather to Watch - Mostly cloudy with a chance for showers. Highs: Mid- 40s. Lows: Upper 20s to low 30s.

FRIDAY: BLACK FRIDAY - Weather to Watch - Cloudy with a chance for a wintry mix. Highs: Low 40s. Lows: Upper 20s to low 30s.

SATURDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs: Upper 30s to low 40s. Lows: Upper 20s.

SUNDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs: Upper 30s to low 40s. Lows: Upper 20s.