Matt Noyes looks at a cold and increasingly windy air for New England that will eventually deliver upslope snow to the far North Country (more on that in last evening’s Evening Essentials here, or coming up in Insights later this morning), while Noyes’ Notes suggests we shouldn’t hold our breath on Saturday snow coming up.
Major Winter Storm Continues for Central and Eastern U.S.:
A significant winter storm continues to advance eastward today, bringing a mix of heavy snow, freezing rain, and gusty winds from the Ohio Valley to the Mid-Atlantic and portions of the Northeast. Snowfall totals of 6-12 inches are expected across parts of Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania, with some localized higher amounts near the northern Mid-Atlantic. Areas farther south, particularly in Kentucky, Virginia, and North Carolina, will contend with significant ice accumulations that could exceed 0.25 inches, posing risks for power outages and travel disruptions.
To the south, thunderstorms—some severe—will push through portions of Florida and southern Georgia, accompanied by gusty winds and isolated tornado threats. The system will clear the East Coast late tonight, leaving behind much colder air that will spill across the eastern half of the country. Highs will run 10 to 20 degrees below normal in many areas, with blustery winds adding to the chill.
In the West, a quieter weather pattern dominates with relatively mild conditions across the Pacific Northwest and Rockies. A few weak disturbances will bring light mountain snow to the northern Rockies and isolated rain showers in the lower elevations. Cooler air will gradually filter into the region by Tuesday.
Two Weather Systems to Impact the Northeast: Heavy Snow in the Mid-Atlantic Today and Prolonged Snowfall in Northern New England Tonight Through Midweek
The Northeast is grappling with a complex weather setup as two separate systems bring impactful winter weather to the region. A major winter storm centered over the Mid-Atlantic will deliver heavy snow today across southern Pennsylvania, northern New Jersey, and into parts of southern New York southward through our nation’s Capital. Snowfall totals in these areas are expected to range from 6 to 12 inches, with locally higher amounts possible. Strong winds of 20-30 mph may result in blowing snow and isolated power outages. The storm’s northern extent will bring lighter snow accumulations of 2-4 inches into the lower Hudson Valley, while areas north of Albany and into New England will largely be spared direct impacts from this system, save for some very light snow possible along the South Coast, especially of Connecticut, Monday afternoon.
Meanwhile, a separate and prolonged snow event will develop over northern New York and northern New England beginning tonight and continuing into Wednesday. This event will be driven by moist northwest flow interacting with cold air and favorable upslope conditions along the Green and White Mountains as well as the Adirondacks. Snowfall totals in these areas are expected to reach 4-8 inches by Wednesday, with locally higher amounts possible in favored upslope zones. Lake effect snow bands off Lake Ontario will also contribute to accumulation in portions of the Tug Hill Plateau and northern Adirondacks.
As the Mid-Atlantic storm moves offshore late tonight, bitterly cold air will surge into the Northeast, with highs on Tuesday struggling to reach the single digits across northern Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, and the teens farther south. Wind chills will dip below zero in many areas, adding to the winter chill. Travelers should prepare for challenging conditions across the region through midweek, particularly in areas impacted by heavy snow and ice.
