First snow storm of the season catches local area by surprise

WARWICK — The problem with the local area's first snowstorm of the season a week ago Thursday, Nov. 15, was not the total accumulation, which was more than forecast, but the timing and the low temperature.
Around 3 p.m. wet snowflakes began falling on frozen roads creating slippery and hazardous conditions. And by late afternoon, during rush hour, it had caused many motorists, especially those without four-wheel drive, to skid to a complete stop on or off the roads. .
Although there were no serious injuries, the Warwick Police Department did report that there were numerous disabled vehicles and that the New York Route 17A approaches to Sterling Mountain and Mount Peter, heavy with commuters at that time, had to be temporarily closed.
Warwick resident Amber Eschmann, for example, reported that it took her five hours to travel home from Westchester. And 2 1/2 hours of that time were spent sitting still on Sterling Mountain...
The National Weather Service had originally forecast 2 - 4 inches of snow accumulation but then revised that estimate to 4 - 8 and also added that the storm would pause overnight.
But on Friday morning, the snowfall had resumed and the official report for Warwick by the National Weather Service was 9 1/2 inches of snow accumulation.
Residents in the higher elevations, however, were reporting totals of as much as a foot or more with drifts.
It was unusual to have a significant snowstorm this early but Town of Warwick Supervisor Michael Sweeton stated that his crews were ready for it.
"We may not have expected the intensity of this storm and it occurred at a bad time," he said. "But our crews were ready and out right away to clear the town roads."
- Roger Gavan