There’s a lot going on in the next 24 hours and Matt Noyes has the full rundown in Noyes’ Notes/1°Outside Today – from incoming rain to slick roads, brush fire smoke smell and snow in the Twin Tiers of New York and Pennsylvania! Plus a shout-out to the Salem Academy Charter School eighth grade!
The nation continues to experience active weather, with two significant systems impacting opposite coasts.
- Eastern U.S.: A potent upper-level low is centered over the Great Lakes, fostering a complex pattern of precipitation. Snowfall is increasing over the central Appalachians, with accumulations of up to a foot expected in higher elevations of West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. A developing coastal low near Long Island is spreading heavy rain and snow into the Northeast. The Poconos, Catskills, and parts of southern New York and northeast Pennsylvania are under Winter Weather Advisories or Warnings for 6–12 inches of snow.
- Western U.S.: A strong atmospheric river remains anchored over northern California, delivering heavy rain and causing life-threatening flooding, landslides, and debris flows. A High Risk of Excessive Rainfall remains in effect, with 6–12 inches of additional rainfall expected in already saturated areas. Snow levels will remain high through Friday, with heavy mountain snow forecast for the Sierra Nevada and northern Rockies as a second storm system approaches the Pacific Northwest. Gusty winds and hazardous surf are likely along coastal areas.
Northeast Weather Story
A dynamic and impactful storm system will dominate the weather across New England and the Northeast through Friday.
- Today: Rain overspreads the region as a coastal low strengthens south of Long Island. Rainfall hits 1–2 inches in southern and central New England, beneficial for drought relief but potentially causing localized urban and poor drainage flooding. Gusty easterly winds up to 30–35 mph near the coast will make for raw, damp conditions. Reduced visibility and ponding on roadways will challenge travel. Aviation disruptions are possible at major hubs such as BOS, BDL, and PVD.
- Tonight into Friday: As the storm retrogrades westward, colder air wraps into the system, allowing rain to change to snow in higher elevations of the Berkshires, Green Mountains, and northern Adirondacks. While accumulations will be limited below 1,500 feet, elevations above 2,000 feet could see 3–6 inches. Valley locations, including much of Connecticut, Rhode Island, and eastern Massachusetts, remain predominantly rainy, with lighter precipitation continuing into Friday.
- Friday Night through Saturday: A second low develops near the Gulf of Maine, bringing another round of steady light rain or snow to eastern Maine and northern New Hampshire. Gusty northwest winds develop as the system departs, with speeds reaching 30–40 mph Saturday afternoon.
- Marine Concerns: Gale warnings are in effect across offshore waters. Seas build to 8–10 feet, with hazardous conditions for mariners through Saturday. Coastal flooding remains a minor concern during high tide today, particularly for eastern Massachusetts and southern Connecticut.
