The New York State Police troop that covers a four-county area east of the Hudson River is advising motorists to stay off local highways during the storm that’s expected to drop up to 18 inches of snow in some areas along the Massachusetts and Connecticut borders.

Troop K covers Columbia, Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester counties. Troopers say major snow storms like the one bearing down on the region Friday have caused highway closures in the region in recent years. Hundreds of motorists were stranded on stretches of Interstate 84 in the Hudson Valley by severe storms in February 2010 and October 2011.

Police say travel conditions are expected to start deteriorating late Friday morning and worsen in the evening, with sporadic closures possible along I-84, Interstate 684 and the Taconic State Parkway.

(AP)