Snow just hours away with some upstate areas likely to see several inches – Times Union

SCHENECTADY — With winter comes picturesque scenes, brightly lit holiday trees, good tidings — and car crashes. 

The promise of the season’s first snowfall will have auto mechanics across the region on standby Wednesday for a slew of customers who crack up their cars after not driving in winter conditions for months.  

Across upstate, residents were expected to awaken Wednesday to find a coating of snow and ice. The precipitation should make the morning’s commute a challenge with the first measurable snow falling on roadways for the first time in months, meteorologists say.

Local car mechanics and body shops are preparing for the fallout.

“The first snowfall always claims a lot of victims,” Gianni Plemenik, co-owner of Frank & Sons Body Works in Scotia, said.

Many of the vehicles that get towed in lack properly-maintained tires or snow tires.

“Once it starts snowing, about 60 percent of the cars that come in don’t have good snow tires,” Plemenik said.

An increase in business is expected for many auto garages across the Capital Region.

The Clifton Park-based Cole’s Collision Center tends to see the first days of winter as peak season for towing disabled vehicles, some of which may sit in limbo in a claims facility for at least a day.

The five-location chain typically sees 25 to 30 tow-ins over five locations following the winter snowfall, said Josh Jewett, president.

“The first one tends to have the biggest peak in [non-drivable vehicles] that we see,” Jewett said.

Tire centers, too, are typically inundated the day before the storm.

“It’s usually a tradition,” Damon Adams, general manager of Schenectady Auto Service, said. “It’s just people getting their sea legs back.”

After winter’s first snow, Schenectady Auto Service typically sees vehicles with front- and rear-end damage, as well as damaged suspensions from vehicles sliding into curbs.

Schenectady Auto typically sees between three and 10 damaged vehicles roll into the shop following the season’s first snow. 

“There would probably be fewer cars if people were more patient,” Adams said.

The process tends to play out over the course of several days, said Jeremiah Pucci, owner of 518 Collision in Schenectady. 

“People aren’t used to the weather yet,” Pucci said, “but it really depends on how much snowfall there is. Or whether someone has snow tires — there’s a lot of factors that go into it.”

Deidre Attendorn, an office worker at Colby Body & Fender Works in Albany, has the post-storm sequence down to a science. 

“So it usually takes two or three days to reach out to a body shop once an accident happens,” Attendorn said.

The owner typically spends the first day figuring out what actually happened, and the second, untangling insurance information and identifying a repair shop.

“If it’s a non-drivable vehicle that needs to be towed in, it’s usually 3 to 5 days after the accident,” Attendorn said. 

Winters are typically Colby Body & Fender Works’ busiest season but staff has been in overdrive all year due to pandemic-related issues that continue to ripple throughout the economy.

“Parts are harder to get, there are staffing shortages: the whole year has been pretty busy like it’s our busy season,” Attendorn said.

Dave Anker, owner of Anker’s Auto Service in Schenectady, recalls the annual early-winter phone calls that roll in. 

“People panic. I need snow tires! I need windshield wiper blades!”

Anker has a few tips for skittish drivers embarking on the fresh snow:

Tap your brakes sharply twice as a test. 

“Watch out for the other guys who don’t know how to drive,” Anker said.

Towing companies, too, are expecting an increase in business this week, particularly during the morning commute. 

“You’re getting in traffic jams and it’s very common to come off the Northway and end up in the ditch,” Joe Martin, owner of Dotts Garage in Albany, said.

The National Weather Service in Albany expects no more than an inch will fall in Albany. Still, heavier totals are expected in the southern and central Adirondack Mountains and outlying locations like western Schenectady County and the Catskills.

Four inches could fall Speculator in the Adirondacks and Hunter in the Catskills. Meteorologists says up to 6 inches of snow could fall in parts of the central Adirondacks.

Closer to home, Albany is expected to get no more than an inch.

At least an inch is expected in low-lying parts of the Hudson Valley with an inch expected in Hudson and less than an inch expected in Kingston.