MID-HUDSON – Several accidents have occurred on area roadways once the snow started to fall early this morning.

A number of accidents were reported on I-84, the Thruway, Rt. 17, the Taconic State Parkway and Palisades Parkway, as well as a number of local roads. On I-84 in the Montgomery area, a snowplow truck overturned at mid-morning,. During the day, tractor-trailer trucks were jackknifing and snowplow trucks were skidding off the roads. On Goshen Turnpike in the Wallkill area, a snowplow truck and a Jeep crashed.

SUV rolled over on Rt. 301 at Glenvue in Carmel

Chain reaction accident on the Tower Drive hill at Rt. 211 in Town of Wallkill

Motorists on the bridges operate by the New York State Bridge Authority are advised to reduce speed, give extra distance between vehicles and stay at least 300 feet behind snow plows and sanders.

To make the weather worse, the National Weather Service is calling for quickly increasing winds to 25 to 35 miles per hour with gusts of up to 60 MPH hrough midnight.

As a result, the Bridge Authority suggested motorists:

• Do not travel unless necessary
• Reduce speed, especially when nearing toll plazas
• Watch for plow and sand trucks entering and leaving the highway
• Stay at least 300 feet behind snow plow and sander trucks
• Beware of blowing and drifting snow with possible temporary white-out conditions

Bear Mountain Bridge: traffic is light and moving smoothly. Exhibit extra caution on curves and near the toll plaza.

Newburgh-Beacon Bridge: Speed reduced to 35 MPH. Traffic is moderate and moving. Motorists are especially urged to reduce speed when entering the toll plaza.

Mid-Hudson Bridge: moderate traffic is proceeding. Reduce speed, especially on the west side approach to the bridge and on ramps on both sides of the bridge.

Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge: light traffic is moving and motorists are urged to reduce speed. Snow continues to accumulate.

Rip Van Winkle Bridge: Snow continues to accumulate as light traffic moves across the span. Extra caution urges near the toll plaza.

A snow emergency has been declared in the City of Newburgh with alternate side of the street parking regulations in place.

Putnam County's inauguration ceremony scheduled for Wednesday afternoon has been rescheduled for next Tuesday, January 6 at 6 p.m. before the reorganizational meeting of the County Legislature.