The coldest air of the week is here, with biting wind chills and subzero feels-like temperatures for parts of New England. Danielle Noyes details how long the blustery conditions will last and when the wind will ease up.
National Weather Summary
Key Highlights:
- Extreme Fire Weather in Southern California: Santa Ana winds will continue to pose a significant fire risk with gusts up to 80-100 mph in mountain passes and foothills. Extremely critical fire weather conditions persist for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
- Winter Storm in Southern Plains: A developing storm system is expected to bring a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain to Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, with significant impacts expected through Thursday.
- Lake-Effect Snow in the Great Lakes Region: Cold air moving over the Great Lakes will drive persistent lake-effect snow, with localized amounts exceeding 12 inches in areas like western New York and northern Michigan.
Details:
- West: A strong ridge over the Great Basin continues to direct cold air into the Southwest, maintaining dry and windy conditions in California. Fire weather warnings remain in effect due to the risk of rapid fire spread. In the Pacific Northwest, light to moderate precipitation will begin to return as a frontal system approaches by late Thursday.
- Central Plains and South: A strengthening storm system over the Gulf Coast will interact with Arctic air in the Southern Plains. Snowfall of 4-8 inches is likely across portions of Texas and Oklahoma, with sleet and freezing rain farther south into Arkansas and northern Louisiana.
- Midwest and Great Lakes: Lake-effect snow continues to impact the region. Snow belts downwind of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario will see the heaviest accumulations, causing hazardous travel conditions.
- Northeast: Cold and windy conditions persist, with some upslope snow in higher elevations. Wind chills will drop into the single digits or below zero in interior areas.
Northeast Weather Story
Key Points:
- Blustery and Cold: The Arctic air mass entrenched across the Northeast will lead to subfreezing temperatures and wind chills well below zero in some areas.
- Upslope and Lake-Enhanced Snow: Northwest winds will continue to drive upslope snow across the Green Mountains of Vermont, the Adirondacks of New York, and parts of northern New Hampshire. Accumulations of 2-5 inches are expected in favored locations, with isolated higher amounts on the western slopes.
- Wind Concerns: Gusts of 30-45 mph will be common, leading to areas of blowing and drifting snow, particularly in higher elevations.
- Tranquil Coastal Areas: While the interior Northeast remains active with snow and wind, coastal areas will see drier conditions but remain cold, with highs in the 20s to low 30s.
Regional Breakdown:
- Northern New York and Vermont: Periods of upslope snow will continue through the day, especially along the western slopes of the Adirondacks and Greens. Travel may be difficult in localized snow bands.
- Southern New England: Dry but blustery conditions dominate. Wind chills will make it feel much colder, especially during the early morning and evening hours.
- Maine: Light snow showers will persist in northern and western parts of the state, while coastal areas remain mostly clear but cold.
Outlook: The pattern of lake-effect and upslope snow will ease by late Thursday as high pressure builds in. A potential storm system this weekend bears monitoring but currently appears to track south of the region.
