Photo: Chris Churchill/Times Union
Snow covers the ground around the Capitol and Empire State Plaza on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, in Albany, NY. (Chris Churchill/Times Union)
Snow covers the ground around the Capitol and Empire State Plaza on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, in Albany, NY. (Chris Churchill/Times Union)
Photo: Chris Churchill/Times Union
Snow covers the ground around the Capitol and Empire State Plaza on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, in Albany, NY. (Chris Churchill/Times Union)
Snow covers the ground around the Capitol and Empire State Plaza on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, in Albany, NY. (Chris Churchill/Times Union)
Photo: Chris Churchill/Times Union
Snow covers the ground around the Capitol and Empire State Plaza on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, in Albany, NY. (Chris Churchill/Times Union)
Snow covers the ground around the Capitol and Empire State Plaza on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, in Albany, NY. (Chris Churchill/Times Union)
Photo: Chris Churchill/Times Union
Snow covers the trees on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in North Greenbush, N.Y. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)
Snow covers the trees on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in North Greenbush, N.Y. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)
Snow covers the trees on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in East Greenbush, N.Y. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)
Snow covers the trees on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in East Greenbush, N.Y. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)
Snow covers the trees on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in North Greenbush, N.Y. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)
Snow covers the trees on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in North Greenbush, N.Y. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)
Snow covers the trees on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in East Greenbush, N.Y. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)
Snow covers the trees on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in East Greenbush, N.Y. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)
Snow plows were out early on Route 9 in Colonie on Tuesday clearing the first inches of what could be two feet of snow dropped by a storm that forecasters say could become a blizzard. (Skip Dickstein / Times Union)
lessSnow plows were out early on Route 9 in Colonie on Tuesday clearing the first inches of what could be two feet of snow dropped by a storm that forecasters say could become a blizzard. (Skip Dickstein / Times
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A snow plow patrols Loudon Road as the first snow of the season hits the Capital Region Saturday Dec. 9, 2017 in Colonie, NY. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union)
A snow plow patrols Loudon Road as the first snow of the season hits the Capital Region Saturday Dec. 9, 2017 in Colonie, NY. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union)
A snow plow patrols Loudon Road as the first snow of the season hits the Capital Region Saturday Dec. 9, 2017 in Colonie, NY. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union)
A snow plow patrols Loudon Road as the first snow of the season hits the Capital Region Saturday Dec. 9, 2017 in Colonie, NY. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union)
Photo: John Carl D'Annibale
Snowy morning commute to give way to afternoon warmth, melt
ALBANY - Drivers will navigate sloppy streets on Tuesday morning but a midday spike in the temperature should melt much of the expected snow and leave roads clear for the evening commute, forecasters said.
'The morning commute could be a little tricky," said Joe Villani, a meteorologist with the National Weather Services in Albany.
The season's first significant snow storm is expected to start overnight and snow should be on the ground by the time people wake up Tuesday morning, he said.
Drivers should find some snow-covered roads when they head out to work on Tuesday, Villani said. He said 1 to 2 inches of snow could fall on the Albany area but heavier amounts are expected in Saratoga County and in communities north of that area.
But the temperature is expected to rise into the 40s by the afternoon. Villani said the snow will turn into rain as the temperature rises. The warmth is expected to melt the snow on the ground too, he said.
But the mild temperature will be fleeting: The mercury is expected to plunge by Wednesday morning. Villani said road salt and other treatments could help keep the melted snow and rain from freezing onto roads and sidewalks.
"Wet surfaces will freeze," he said.
The temperature is expected to remain below the freezing point through the rest of the week.
http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Snowy-morning-commute-to-give-way-to-afternoon-12421696.php
