Matt’s shifting gears from yesterday’s snow to today’s…cold! Wind chill values will stay in the teens today for many of us, and that’s going to be a shock to the system! Matt starts your day with everything you need to know for the next 24 hours.
National Meteorological Summary:
As of Friday morning, the U.S. is experiencing active and impactful weather patterns, particularly across the Great Lakes, Northeast, and the southern Gulf Coast.
- Great Lakes and Northeast: Arctic air dominates the eastern U.S., bringing widespread lake-effect and upslope snow to areas downwind of Lakes Erie and Ontario. The Tug Hill Plateau and western Adirondacks will see the heaviest snowfall, with totals reaching 1-2 feet in the hardest-hit areas by Saturday morning. Blowing snow from strong winds of 30-50 mph will create hazardous travel conditions and drastically reduce visibility. Across the interior Northeast and Appalachians, light snow and strong winds continue to make travel challenging, with wind chills dipping into the single digits.
- Southern U.S.: A developing low-pressure system along the Gulf Coast will produce showers and thunderstorms through the weekend. Enhanced Gulf moisture may lead to localized heavy rainfall, especially near the Texas-Louisiana border. This system could spark isolated flash flooding in areas with already saturated soils.
- Western U.S.: High pressure keeps much of the region dry, with above-average temperatures in the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West. By late Saturday, a frontal system arrives in the Pacific Northwest, bringing rain and mountain snow to Washington and Oregon.
- Temperature Outlook: While Arctic air keeps the eastern U.S. below normal with wind chills in the teens and single digits, the central U.S. experiences a significant warm-up. Highs will reach 50s and 60s in the Plains, up to 20°F above average by Saturday.
Northeast Weather Story:
The Northeast faces a wintry blast of Arctic air as lake-effect snow and gusty winds continue to impact the region into Friday.
- Today (Friday): Lake-effect snow persists across western and northern New York, particularly in areas downwind of Lakes Erie and Ontario, including the Tug Hill Plateau and Chautauqua Ridge. Snowfall rates of 1-2 inches per hour will lead to accumulations of up to 1-2 feet in localized areas by Saturday morning. Farther east, lighter snow showers will affect the Green Mountains, Berkshires, and White Mountains. Gusty northwest winds up to 40 mph will create blowing and drifting snow, further reducing visibility and making travel hazardous. High temperatures struggle to reach the mid-20s in the mountains, while coastal areas see highs near 30°F. Wind chills will feel much colder, with single digits common across much of the region.
- Tonight: Snow showers diminish across most areas but linger in the lake-effect belts of western and northern New York. Winds gradually subside, though gusts of 20-30 mph remain possible overnight. Low temperatures will plummet into the teens, with single digits in higher elevations. Wind chills will make it feel as cold as zero in some interior locations.
- Saturday: The cold and dry pattern persists, with occasional snow showers in the western Mohawk Valley and Adirondacks. Highs remain in the upper 20s to mid-30s, while winds subside slightly, offering some relief from biting wind chills. By evening, a weak clipper system approaches, spreading light snow into much of New England into Sunday morning.
- Weekend Outlook: Sunday brings a brief moderation in temperatures as the clipper system exits, with highs reaching the mid-30s to low 40s. A more significant system arrives Monday, bringing widespread rain to southern New England, a mix central and snow or mix north. Areas of freezing rain are possible in sheltered valleys.
