New England’s next storm arrives today! Areas of rain expand northward, with snow developing in central and northern New England by late afternoon and evening. Then, as colder air moves in overnight, rain flips to snow south of the Mass Pike before a freeze-up creates slippery roads Saturday morning. Danielle has full details in the video.
National Weather Summary
A complex weather pattern is unfolding across the country today, featuring an active West Coast storm system, heavy rainfall in the Mid-Atlantic and Southern Appalachians, and a wintry mix across portions of the Northeast.
A significant atmospheric river event is developing along the West Coast, delivering heavy rain and potential flooding to parts of northern and central California. Rainfall totals through the weekend may exceed several inches, particularly in the Sacramento Valley, the Sierra Nevada foothills, and the Bay Area. Snow levels will initially be high but will lower gradually as the system progresses. Meanwhile, portions of the Pacific Northwest will also receive rainfall and mountain snowfall, with temperatures dropping below normal after an extended period of mild conditions.
Further east, a storm system tracking through the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys into the Mid-Atlantic will bring widespread moderate to heavy rainfall, particularly for the higher elevations of West Virginia, where snowmelt may contribute to flooding concerns. Rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are expected across the Tennessee Valley, Southern Appalachians, and Mid-Atlantic, with localized higher amounts possible.
On the northern periphery of this system, New England will see a wintry mix of precipitation, including light snow, sleet, and freezing rain from northern Pennsylvania and Upstate New York into Vermont, New Hampshire, and southern Maine. Some locations may see a few inches of snow accumulation before precipitation transitions to rain. The system will exit the region by early Saturday, ushering in colder temperatures across the Northeast.
Elsewhere, much of the Plains, Midwest, and Southeast will experience above-average temperatures, with some locations running 15 to 20 degrees warmer than normal. However, colder air is beginning to settle into the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest, where a developing storm system will bring accumulating snowfall to the Upper Midwest by Sunday.
Looking ahead, another storm system will eject from the West and move into the northern Plains early next week, reinforcing colder temperatures across the region and bringing additional snowfall to portions of the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes. Meanwhile, the atmospheric river in California will continue into early next week, shifting southward and prolonging flooding concerns.
Northeast Weather Story
The Northeast will experience a wintry mix of precipitation today, as a storm system tracks through the Mid-Atlantic and southern New England. Snow, sleet, and freezing rain will be most widespread from Upstate New York into Vermont, New Hampshire, and southern Maine, while rain dominates closer to the coast.
Early this morning, a period of freezing rain is likely across the interior, particularly in portions of the Mohawk Valley, Berkshires, and southern Vermont. Ice accumulations will be light but enough to create slick travel conditions. Further north into the Adirondacks, northern Green Mountains, and parts of central and northern New Hampshire, snow will be the dominant precipitation type, with accumulations of 2 to 4 inches possible, especially in higher elevations.
By midday, warmer air will push into southern New England and much of the lower elevations, transitioning precipitation to rain across southern Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, while lingering snow and freezing rain persist further north. This transition line is key, as areas north of I-90 may see accumulating snow before the changeover.
Tonight, as the system exits, colder air will return behind the departing low, and precipitation will end as light snow or freezing drizzle across the region. Little additional accumulation is expected, but untreated surfaces may become slick overnight into early Saturday morning.
Temperatures will trend colder on Saturday, with highs only in the teens and 20s across northern areas and low to mid-30s further south. Winds will pick up behind the system, making for a blustery, cold day.
Looking ahead, another clipper system will approach on Sunday night into Monday, bringing another round of light snow to much of the region. Snowfall amounts should be modest, but this system will reinforce cold air across the Northeast into early next week.
A potentially more impactful storm system looms for the middle of next week, with the possibility of heavier precipitation and a mix of rain and snow, depending on the storm track. This could bring travel disruptions across portions of the Northeast by Wednesday or Thursday.