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Residents of the Capital Region should brace for a bitterly cold weekend as snow and frigid temperatures are expected to sweep through the area. The National Weather Service forecasts that snow will begin in Albany by late morning or early afternoon on Friday (December 20), with accumulations of up to three inches possible by Saturday morning. Areas west of the city, including the Helderbergs and Catskill mountains, may see even higher totals.
Meteorologist Christina Speciale from the National Weather Service advised, "People should certainly give themselves a little extra time, especially if they have evening holiday plans." The snow is expected to taper off by early Saturday morning, but the cold will persist. Temperatures are predicted to plummet into the single digits on Saturday, coinciding with the winter solstice, and remain in the teens on Sunday. Wind chill temperatures could drop into the negatives in higher elevations, such as the Hilltowns.
The cold snap is likely to continue into early next week, with daytime highs only reaching the mid to upper teens on Sunday. By Monday morning, temperatures could hover just above or below zero. The National Weather Service is also monitoring a weak disturbance that might bring additional light snow on Christmas Eve, potentially ensuring a white Christmas for the region.
For the latest updates and weather warnings, tune to NewsRadio 810 / 103.1 WGY.