A mild February day leads to overnight rain & snow, but don’t worry—improvements come quickly by midday Thursday. Danielle has the latest details, including an updated accumulation map in the video!
National Weather Summary
A relatively active weather pattern persists across the northern U.S. as a series of clipper systems move through the Great Lakes and Northeast, bringing scattered rain and snow showers. A low-pressure system moving out of the northern Rockies will advance into the Midwest, with light to moderate snow expected across the Great Lakes and interior New England from tonight into Thursday. Meanwhile, a trailing cold front will bring a swath of rain from the Ohio Valley to the Appalachians.
Elsewhere, a dissipating Pacific system continues to bring lingering light snow to the northern Rockies before tapering off by Wednesday afternoon. The rest of the country remains dry under the influence of high pressure, with much of the central and southern U.S. experiencing well above-average temperatures, ranging 10 to 20 degrees above normal. Highs in the Southwest could reach 90 degrees, while much of the Plains and Midwest will enjoy highs in the 40s and 50s.
Northeast Weather Story
The Northeast remains in a transition phase as mild air lingers ahead of an approaching clipper system. While conditions will be mostly dry during the day, increasing clouds will signal the arrival of the next system late tonight into Thursday.
Temperatures will remain unseasonably warm, with highs in the mid-40s to low 50s across southern New England, while interior areas and northern New York/Vermont will top out in the upper 30s to low 40s. Winds will turn westerly at 10-15 mph, with occasional gusts up to 25 mph early.
By tonight, precipitation will spread in from the west as a weak low-pressure system moves into the Great Lakes. Initially, this will bring light snow to the Adirondacks, Green Mountains, and northern Maine, while valleys and southern regions start with rain. A brief period of freezing rain is possible in higher elevations of the Berkshires, Adirondacks, and White Mountains before transitioning to plain rain by early Thursday morning.
Key Impacts:
- Morning Fog & Low Visibility: Patchy fog, particularly in snow-covered regions, may reduce visibility for commuters.
- Late-Night Mixed Precipitation: Potential for icy patches in higher elevations before transitioning to rain.
- Travel Conditions: Roads should remain mostly wet rather than icy in southern areas, but some slick spots are possible in central and northern New England.
- Marine & Aviation: Westerly winds will cause choppy seas and occasional gusts up to 25 knots on the waters, while brief IFR conditions are possible late Wednesday night with incoming precipitation.
Looking ahead, colder air will return briefly by Friday and a clipper system will bring additional snow and rain showers into the weekend.