Tom’s Top 3 for 2/6: The Berkshires In Line For Significant Snow

The Berkshires is in line to get hit with another winter storm that could deposit a healthy amount of snow across the county. The National Weather Service in Albany has a Winter Storm Watch in effect beginning 7 AM Wednesday and going through Thursday at 4 AM. Forecasters are calling for anywhere between 6 and 10 inches of snow accumulations starting in the late morning tomorrow. Drivers could see some difficult conditions including low visibility at times.

Here is the official advisory from the Nations Weather Service in Albany:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Albany NY
312 AM EST Tue Feb 6 2018

MAZ001-NYZ032-038>040-047>054-062200-
/O.CON.KALY.WS.A.0003.180207T1200Z-180208T0900Z/
Northern Berkshire-Northern Herkimer-Southern Herkimer-
Southern Fulton-Montgomery-Schoharie-Western Schenectady-
Eastern Schenectady-Southern Saratoga-Western Albany-
Eastern Albany-Western Rensselaer-Eastern Rensselaer-
Including the cities of Dalton, Hancock, Pittsfield, Florida,
North Adams, Big Moose, Eagle Bay, McKeever, Old Forge, Atwell,
Nobleboro, Northwood, Ilion, Herkimer, Little Falls, Mohawk,
Frankfort, Dolgeville, Gloversville, Johnstown, Amsterdam,
Cobleskill, Breakabeen, Gilboa, Livingstonville, Middleburgh,
North Blenheim, Jefferson, Mariaville, Delanson, Duanesburg,
Schenectady, Rotterdam, Burnt Hills, Ballston Spa, Mechanicville,
Clifton Park, Waterford, Westerlo, Altamont, Berne, Knox,
Preston Hollow, Albany, Troy, Berlin, Eagle Bridge,
Hoosick Falls, and Stephentown
312 AM EST Tue Feb 6 2018

...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING
THROUGH LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT...

* WHAT...Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations of 6 to 10
  inches are possible.

* WHERE...Herkimer County, Mohawk and Schoharie Valleys, Capital
  Region and Helderbergs, and the central and northern Taconics of
  eastern New York and the northern Berkshires of western
  Massachusetts..

* WHEN...From Wednesday morning through late Wednesday night.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Plan on difficult travel conditions,
  including during the evening commute on Wednesday. Significant
  reductions in visibility are possible.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Winter Storm Watch means there is potential for significant
snow, sleet or ice accumulations that may impact travel. Continue
to monitor the latest forecasts.

State AG And Berkshire Museum Search For Resolution

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey's office appears to be working with the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield to settle the question of whether the institution can sell dozens of artworks, including two Norman Rockwell paintings. The Berkshire Eagle reports that the state and the museum issued a public statement pledging cooperation. Representatives from Healey's office and the museum say the two parties are working together to resolve the matter, recognizing the shared responsibility for the collection. The state still says the art can't be sold, while the museum says it has the right to sell the art to improve its finances and help fund a major renovation. The two sides hope to file a petition with the Supreme Judicial Court soon. Until a resolution is found, no art will be sold.

Plane Overshoots Runway In Great Barrington

The Walter J. Koladza Airport was temporarily closed to all air traffic except in the case of an emergency after a plane overshot the west end of the runway upon takeoff Sunday evening and then crashed into a hayfield on the land of one of the airports neighbors. The Berkshire Eagle reports that according to the town’s police log, it appeared that there were no injuries. The occupants of the plane refused medical treatment. The number of passengers that were in the plane remains unclear. The plane was still sitting upright Monday morning in the ice-encrusted field below the end the 2,600-foot runway. A Federal Aviation Administration investigator at the scene declined to give the newspaper comment, citing the continuing investigation.