CHENANGO COUNTY– The National Weather Service in Binghamton and local emergency management officials are cautioning residents that today’s snow storm could dump over a foot of wet snow, accumulating at several inches an hour. Powerful wind gusts may also cause widespread power outages.

“Steady snow will develop this morning, with heavy snowfall anticipated this afternoon and much of tonight. Strong gusty winds will develop later today and tonight creating blizzard conditions,” reported the National Weather Service, broadcasting a warning to more than 20 central New York counties, including Chenango. “By the time the snow tapers off tonight, storm totals of 12 to 20 inches will be common.”

All Chenango County school districts are closed today. The winter storm warning will remain in effect until 7 a.m. Friday.

City of Norwich Emergency Management Director A. Wesley Jones said a number of conditions were coming together to make this weather front more of a hazard than the typical winter storm.

“This is going to be a heavy wet snow because the temperature is going to be near freezing. Warmer snow means more moisture content. This afternoon and into tonight, the intensity is really going to pick up 1 to 2 inches per hour – even a rate of 3 inches per hour is possible. My biggest concern is later on tonight and into tomorrow morning, the projected high winds coupled with the heavy snow could cause some significant power outages in our region,” said Jones.