Knowledge Center

Clear, local answers to the Capital Region’s most common weather questions.

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This Knowledge Center is designed to help you quickly find the information you need during impactful weather. Each section focuses on a specific hazard or season, with clear explanations of alerts, risks, and safety guidance. Use the buttons below to jump directly to the topics you want to explore, or scroll through the page to browse everything in order. Whether you’re preparing ahead of a storm or checking conditions in the moment, this page gives you fast, reliable access to the essentials.

Alerts Hazards Preparedness Take Action Severe FAQs Winter FAQs Cold Weather FAQs Hot Weather FAQs Glossary Quick Links

Understanding Weather Alerts

A fast breakdown of the alert types
you’ll see most often.
  • Warning: Hazardous weather is occurring or imminent. Take action.
  • Watch: Conditions are favorable for hazardous weather. Stay alert.
  • Advisory: Lower-end impacts that may still disrupt travel or routines.
  • Special Weather Statement: Brief hazards that still warrant attention.

Local Hazards in the Capital Region

The Capital Region experiences a wide range of
impactful weather throughout the year.

Most Common Threats

  • Damaging straight-line winds
  • Flash flooding from heavy rain
  • Heavy snow and ice
  • Occasional tornadoes
  • Extreme cold and dangerous wind chills

Preparedness Checklist

Simple steps to stay ready before severe or
winter weather strikes.

General Severe Weather

  • Charge phones and backup batteries
  • Secure outdoor items
  • Know your safe interior room
  • Monitor alerts from CWO and NWS Albany

High Winds

  • Secure outdoor items and trash bins
  • Avoid parking under trees or power lines
  • Prepare for scattered power outages
  • Use caution on bridges and open highways

Flash Flooding

  • Avoid basements and low-lying areas
  • Never drive through flooded roads
  • Move to higher ground if needed
  • Turn around early if water is rising nearby

Winter Storms

  • Keep extra blankets and warm clothing
  • Stock food, water, and medications
  • Have ice melt and shovels ready
  • Prepare for possible power outages

Extreme Cold

  • Limit time outdoors
  • Dress in layers
  • Protect pets and pipes
  • Use caution with space heaters and fireplaces

Power Outages

  • Keep flashlights and batteries accessible
  • Charge phones and backup power banks
  • Avoid using generators indoors
  • Unplug electronics to prevent surge damage

When to Take Action

What to do before, during, and after
hazardous weather.

Before the Storm

  • Review alerts
  • Prepare your home and vehicle
  • Charge devices
  • Gather essentials

During the Storm

  • Stay indoors
  • Avoid travel unless necessary
  • Follow official guidance
  • Monitor updates from CWO

After the Storm

  • Watch for downed power lines
  • Avoid floodwaters
  • Check on neighbors
  • Document any damage

Severe Weather FAQs

Quick answers to the Capital Region’s most
common severe weather questions.

Severe weather includes any event capable of causing damage, disruption, or danger to life. In the Capital Region, this includes severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, flash flooding, damaging winds, large hail, heavy snow and ice, and extreme heat or cold.

  • Watch: Conditions are favorable for severe weather. Stay alert.
  • Warning: Severe weather is occurring or imminent. Take action immediately.

A storm that produces winds of 58 mph or higher, hail 1 inch or larger, or both. Lightning alone does not make a storm “severe.”

A tornado has been spotted or indicated by radar. Move to a safe interior room on the lowest floor.

Move to higher ground, avoid flooded roads, and stay out of basements and low‑lying areas. Flash flooding is the leading cause of severe weather fatalities in the U.S.

Strong winds, heavy snow, ice, and lightning can bring down trees or power lines. Wet, heavy snow and ice are especially common causes of outages in the Capital Region.

These are called non‑convective wind events, often caused by strong pressure gradients behind cold fronts. They can produce gusts over 50 mph even on sunny days.

A microburst is a powerful, localized downdraft that hits the ground and spreads outward, producing damaging straight‑line winds. They can cause tornado‑like damage.

Look for rapidly darkening skies, increasing wind, frequent lightning, or a sudden temperature drop. If a warning is issued, take action immediately.

Straight‑line winds push debris in one direction, while tornadoes create rotating, converging damage patterns. Both can be dangerous.

Use NOAA Weather Radio, Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), local TV/radio, NWS Albany alerts, and Colonie Weather Online’s real‑time updates.

Winter Weather FAQs

A practical guide to snow, ice, wind chill,
and winter storm alerts.

A Winter Storm Warning is issued when heavy snow, sleet, or ice is expected. Travel becomes hazardous and disruptions are likely. Plan for difficult or impossible travel.

A Winter Weather Advisory is issued for lighter snow, sleet, or freezing rain that may still cause travel difficulties. Use caution and allow extra time.

A Blizzard Warning is issued when strong winds and falling or blowing snow reduce visibility to one-quarter mile or less for at least three hours. Travel becomes extremely dangerous.

An Ice Storm Warning is issued when significant icing is expected. Ice accumulation can bring down trees and power lines and make travel nearly impossible.

Lake-effect snow forms when cold air passes over warmer lake water, creating narrow but intense snow bands. Accumulations can vary dramatically over short distances.

  • Freezing rain coats surfaces with ice on contact, creating glaze ice.
  • Sleet is ice pellets that bounce on impact. Sleet is slippery, but freezing rain is far more dangerous.

Local terrain, elevation, and wind direction can create sharp snowfall gradients. Lake‑effect bands and elevation changes in the Capital Region often cause big differences over just a few miles.

Wet snow is heavier and can cause tree damage, roof stress, and power outages. It also makes roads slicker and harder to plow.

A flash freeze occurs when temperatures drop rapidly below freezing, causing wet surfaces to turn icy almost instantly. Roads become extremely hazardous.

Sleet forms when snowflakes melt into raindrops in a warm layer aloft, then refreeze before reaching the ground. A shallow cold layer near the surface is key.

Keep an emergency kit, charge devices, stock essentials, and stay informed through CWO updates and NWS Albany alerts. Avoid unnecessary travel during warnings.

Cold Weather FAQs

A practical guide to winter's cold temperatures.

Cold Weather Advisory
Issued when wind chills drop to levels that can cause frostbite with prolonged exposure. Dress in layers and limit time outdoors.

Frost Advisory / Freeze Watch / Freeze Warning
Sub-freezing temperatures expected. Protect sensitive plants, outdoor plumbing, and pets.

Extreme Cold Warning
Rare but dangerous. Extended periods of very low temperatures that pose a severe risk to health and infrastructure.

Wind chills below 0°F can cause frostbite in under 30 minutes. Wind chills below -15°F can cause frostbite in 10 minutes or less.

Frostbite affects skin and extremities. Signs include numbness, pale or gray skin, and a hard or waxy feel.

Hypothermia affects the entire body. Signs include shivering, confusion, slurred speech, and drowsiness.

Both require immediate warming and medical attention.

  • Keep indoor temps above 55°F
  • Open cabinets under sinks
  • Let faucets drip during extreme cold
  • Insulate exposed pipes
  • Know where your main shutoff valve is

Cold thickens engine oil and reduces battery performance. A weak battery that works at 40°F may fail at 0°F.

  • Blanket or extra layers
  • Ice scraper & snow brush
  • Flashlight
  • Phone charger
  • Small shovel
  • Sand or kitty litter for traction
  • Snacks & water

  • Keep space heaters 3 feet from anything flammable
  • Never use ovens or grills for heat
  • Ensure fireplaces and wood stoves are vented
  • Install and test carbon monoxide detectors
  • Never run generators indoors

Wind chill measures how cold it feels when wind removes heat from your skin. Example: 10°F with a 20 mph wind feels like -9°F.

  • Close off unused rooms
  • Layer clothing
  • Use blankets and sleeping bags
  • Avoid opening exterior doors
  • Stay hydrated and fed

If it’s too cold for you, it’s too cold for them. Limit outdoor time, provide warm bedding, and never leave pets in cars.

Seek shelter, cover exposed skin, stay dry, keep moving, and call for help if possible. Frostbite and hypothermia can develop quickly.

Hot and Warm Weather FAQs

A practical guide to summer's temperatures.

Heat Advisory
Issued when heat index values reach levels that can cause heat exhaustion with prolonged exposure. Stay hydrated and limit strenuous activity.

Excessive Heat Watch
Dangerous heat is possible. Prepare cooling options, check on vulnerable individuals, and plan to avoid outdoor work.

Excessive Heat Warning
Life-threatening heat. Heat stroke is possible with even short exposure. Avoid outdoor activity and stay in air conditioning if possible.

Air Quality Alert
Often issued during hot, stagnant weather. Sensitive groups should limit outdoor activity.

Heat becomes dangerous when the heat index reaches the upper 90s. Heat index values above 105°F can cause heat stroke with short exposure.

Heat Exhaustion includes heavy sweating, dizziness, nausea, and weakness. Move to a cool place and hydrate.

Heat Stroke is a medical emergency. Symptoms include confusion, hot/dry skin, rapid pulse, and fainting. Call 911 immediately.

  • Stay in air conditioning whenever possible
  • Drink water frequently — don’t wait until you’re thirsty
  • Avoid outdoor activity during peak sun (11 AM–4 PM)
  • Wear light, loose clothing
  • Take cool showers or use cold compresses

Temperatures inside a parked car can rise 20–30°F in 10 minutes, even with windows cracked. Heat stroke can occur quickly — never leave children or pets in vehicles.

Most adults need at least 8–12 cups of water per day in hot weather. Outdoor workers and athletes may need significantly more.

Provide shade, fresh water, and avoid walking pets on hot pavement. If the ground is too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for their paws.

  • Move to the coolest room in your home
  • Use battery‑powered fans
  • Stay hydrated
  • Visit cooling centers if available
  • Avoid opening windows during peak heat

Weather Glossary

Short definitions for common weather
terms and phrases.
  • Updraft: Rising air that fuels thunderstorms.
  • Downdraft: Sinking air that can produce damaging winds.
  • Microburst: A powerful, localized downdraft causing intense wind damage.
  • Wind Chill: How cold it feels when wind removes heat from exposed skin.
  • Ice Accretion: The buildup of ice from freezing rain.
  • Convective Outlook: SPC’s forecast for thunderstorm potential.

Quick Links

Essential tools for monitoring
severe and winter weather.
Albany NWS  New York State Mesonet  Storm Prediction Center  Winter Storm Severity Index  Local River Levels