Schools are closing early today and people are preparing for rain and high winds as what is described by the National Weather Service as “a very large and dangerous Hurricane Sandy” moves up the East Coast and in our direction.

Forecasters are predicting rain to start this afternoon and winds to pick up, to about 25 mph with gusts as high as 40 mph.

High temperatures should be in the mid-50s this afternoon and stay there tonight as winds from the northeast at about 35 mph gusting to 55 mph.

The wind will remain strong tomorrow, 20 to 25 mph gusting to 45 and, as of now, a chance of showers but skies clearing.

More rain is possible Tuesday night as winds diminish to about 10 mph.

The NWS forecast for the St. Lawrence Valley and northwestern Adirondacks:

Today: A chance of rain, mainly after 2pm. Cloudy, with a high near 54. Breezy, with a northeast wind 11 to 16 mph increasing to 19 to 24 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 39 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tonight: Rain likely, mainly between 7pm and 2am. Cloudy, with a low around 53. Windy, with a northeast wind 34 to 38 mph, with gusts as high as 55 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tuesday: A chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. Windy, with a east wind 20 to 26 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night: A chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. East wind 7 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Wednesday: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 56. East wind 7 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 41. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday: A chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 55. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Thursday Night: A chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 39. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Friday: A chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 51. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 48.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 50.