NY weather: Weather alert issued for snow showers in Sullivan County early Tuesday evening

At 2:32 p.m. on Tuesday, the National Weather Service issued a weather notice for Sullivan County, predicting snow showers through 4:30 p.m.

“In certain cases, short, moderate to intense snow showers will quickly cut visibility to a half mile or less. When traveling, exercise additional caution. The weather service predicts that localized hazardous travel conditions may result from rapid changes in visibility and possibly slick roads.

Rainy day rules: How to stay safe in heavy precipitation

If heavy rainfall persists or if runoff is substantial, flooding may result. Saturated soils and/or heavy rainfall can cause excessive runoff. To keep safe during periods of intense rain, heed these weather service recommendations:

Watch out for flooding rivers:

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  Do not play in or around culverts or drainage ditches as swiftly moving water that occurs during heavy rain can sweep you away.
  

Keep your distances from other vehicles safe:

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  Use the two-second rule to maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you and allow an extra two seconds in heavy rain.
  

Reduce your speed and exercise caution:

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  If it is raining and the roads are wet, slow down. Take your foot off the accelerator and let your speed drop gradually. Never use the brakes suddenly because this may cause the car to skid.
  

Pick your lane carefully:

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  Stay toward the middle lanes – water tends to pool in the outside lanes.
  

Visibility is important.

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  Turn on your headlights.
  
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  Be careful of other vehicles to the rear and in blind spot areas as they are especially difficult to see through rain-spattered windows.
  

Be cautious on slick roads:

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  Be extra careful during the first half hour after rain begins. Grime and oil on the road surface mix with water to make the road slippery.
  

Stay a safe distance away from big cars:

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  Don’t follow large trucks or buses too closely. The spray created by their large tires reduces your vision. Take care when passing them as well; if you must pass, do so quickly and safely.
  

Be mindful of your wipers:

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  Heavy rain can overload the wiper blades. When visibility is so limited that the edges of the road or other vehicles cannot be seen at a safe distance, it is time to pull over and wait for the rain to ease up. It is best to stop at rest areas or other protected areas. If the roadside is your only option, pull off as far as possible, preferably past the end of a guard rail, and wait until the storm passes. Keep your headlights on and turn on emergency flashers to alert other drivers.
  

Taking these safety measures will significantly improve your road safety while it’s raining a lot. For a safe trip, keep yourself updated on weather conditions and follow local authorities’ instructions.

United Robots offers a service called Advance Local Weather Alerts that gathers the most recent information from the National Weather Service using machine learning.

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