Matt Noyes expects the wind out there now to actually get STRONGER by late morning into late afternoon, with some gusts hitting 60 mph for scattered power outages…particularly where there’s a glaze on tree branches/limbs and power lines. Watch the video for Matt’s 24-hour forecast…and you’ll find the daily National Weather Summary and Northeast Weather Story written in this post!
A powerful Arctic outbreak is gripping much of the U.S. as a large winter storm exits the Northeast, leaving behind strong winds, frigid temperatures, and lingering lake-effect snow. The coldest air of the season has settled over the Great Plains, Midwest, and Northeast, with dangerous wind chills of -30°F to -60°F across the Upper Midwest and northern Plains. This Arctic air mass will continue spreading south and east, bringing well-below-normal temperatures as far south as Texas and the Southeast by midweek.
In the Northeast, the major winter storm that impacted the region over the weekend is winding down, but gusty winds (40-60 mph), bitterly cold temperatures, and lake-effect snow continue. Significant blowing and drifting snow will make for hazardous travel conditions across the Great Lakes and interior Northeast today.
Meanwhile, the next winter storm is developing over the Southern Plains, set to bring snow, sleet, and freezing rain from Texas to the Ohio Valley by Tuesday and Wednesday. This system is expected to intensify as it moves east, bringing a renewed risk of winter weather impacts in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast by midweek.
On the West Coast, a Pacific storm system is bringing coastal rain and heavy mountain snow to the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies. Several feet of snow are likely in the Cascades and northern Rockies, creating hazardous travel through midweek.
Looking ahead, the bitter cold will remain entrenched in the central and eastern U.S. through the week, with another storm system possibly bringing heavy snow and ice to parts of the East Coast by Wednesday and Thursday.
A brutal Arctic air mass has settled over New England and Upstate New York, bringing dangerously cold wind chills, strong winds, and lingering lake-effect snow. With the major winter storm now departing, powerful west-northwest winds gusting 40-60 mph will continue across the region, making for dangerous travel conditions due to blowing and drifting snow. These strong winds, combined with the coldest air of the season, will send wind chills well below zero throughout the day, with the coldest readings of -10°F to -20°F across interior areas. Power outages remain a concern, as ice-laden branches and trees may come down in the gusty winds.
Lake-effect snow will remain a major issue today, with heavy snow bands continuing east of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Areas like the Tug Hill Plateau, western Adirondacks, and western Vermont could see an additional 6-12 inches of snow, with locally higher amounts. Whiteout conditions from blowing and drifting snow will make travel treacherous in these areas. Snow showers and flurries may also reach into parts of southern Vermont, western Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, though accumulations will be minor.
By Tuesday, the winds will begin to gradually weaken, though gusts of 30-40 mph will still be common. High temperatures will remain well below freezing, and morning wind chills will continue to range from -5°F to -15°F inland. Scattered snow showers and flurries will persist in higher elevations, but overall snowfall activity will be diminishing.
Attention then turns to the next potential winter storm arriving late Wednesday into Thursday. While details remain uncertain, this system could bring another round of significant snowfall to interior New England and Upstate New York, while a wintry mix or rain may develop closer to the coast. A storm track closer to the coast would bring heavy snow inland and strong winds along the shoreline, while a farther offshore track would limit impacts. Coastal areas from Boston to Providence and Portland will also need to monitor the potential for gusty winds and coastal flooding.
As the storm exits, a cold but quieter pattern will return for Friday into the weekend, with dry conditions and temperatures slowly moderating. However, another system may approach by late weekend, reinforcing this active and wintry weather pattern.
In summary, today brings dangerous cold, high winds, and lake-effect snow, with hazardous travel and power outage risks. Conditions moderate slightly Tuesday, but another winter storm may impact the region midweek, followed by a cold but calmer end to the week. Stay tuned for updates, especially regarding the Wednesday-Thursday system, as forecast details become clearer.
