What to Know
- With a widespread winter storm is set to hit much of the U.S. through this weekend, we’re getting our first look at possible snow totals for the tri-state
- Preliminary forecasts show 8-16 inches of snow can be expected for much of the region, including New York City, the Hudson Valley, nearly all of New Jersey and into Connecticut.
- Areas along the coast may see slightly lower totals, as could eastern parts of Long Island and much of the Jersey Shore.
- The Northeast will get hit hardest Sunday afternoon and evening, with residual light snow Monday. Be prepared for travel to remain very difficult Monday morning and expect school, business, and government office closures on Monday, too.
With a widespread winter storm is set to hit much of the U.S. through this weekend, we’re getting our first look at possible snow totals for the tri-state — and this one may prove to be the biggest in some time.
As of Wednesday, 8-16 inches of snow can be expected for much of the region, including New York City, the Hudson Valley, nearly all of New Jersey and into Connecticut. Areas along the coast may see slightly lower totals, as could eastern parts of Long Island and much of the Jersey Shore.
The current forecast calls for many hours of fluffy, heavy snow falling in the tri-state starting early Sunday morning and lasting perhaps into early Monday.
South of the heaviest snow areas, a band of sleet and freezing rain is expected to set up, which will make travel a nightmare Sunday night into Monday morning. Similarly to the snow, it’s too early to call exactly where that band of ice will develop, but at this point, the I-95 corridor through South Jersey, the Delmarva Peninsula Washington D.C., Virginia and North Carolina are places to avoid Sunday and Monday.
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Either way, this will be a large-scale, very impactful event for much of the country, even in the South, with significant snow and ice potential. Huge travel impacts and extensive power outages could occur.
Winter storm watches are already in place stretching from Arizona to West Virginia, with the rest of the East Coast likely to see advisories start being issued by the end of the week.
Before the snow arrives, expect another Arctic blast heading into the weekend. After a warmup on Thursday, the bitter cold moves back into the tri-state Friday night, setting the stage for the big snow potential.
Wind chills in the single digits can be expected Saturday and Sunday, and it could even feel below zero each night.
What the track of the storm will be, timing, and more precise totals will be in better focus come Thursday and Friday. Until then, here are some things the tri-state area should know about the storm.
Sunday is the impact day for the East Coast
The storm will develop over Texas on Saturday, but the East Coast won’t feel a direct impact until Sunday. That’s when snow, sleet, freezing rain, and rain will impact everyone from New England to the Southeast.
In the Northeast, the biggest impact is likely to be from the New York City metro area to the south.
Travel trouble starts Saturday
Weather on the East Coast will be quiet Saturday, but air travel will likely be a mess.
Snow and ice could grind airports to a halt in the middle of the country. Hubs like Dallas/Fort Worth, St. Louis, Memphis, Nashville, Cincinnati and possibly Atlanta will be impacted, and the ripple effect will cause delays and cancellations across the country.
Snow totals will be impressive for some
Once the storm makes it to the East Coast on Sunday, it will be a prolific snow-maker in certain regions – very possibly including the tri-state.
Snow totals will depend on the track of the storm and the precipitation type. Some areas will see all snow. That’s where over a foot of snow will be easy to get. Other places may see a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain, which will significantly limit snow totals.
At this time, we can’t confidently pinpoint exactly where the heaviest snow will fall, but that picture will become clearer Thursday into Friday.
Ice could make travel treacherous
South of the heavy snow area, up to an inch and a half of ice could make driving on roads perilous. For now, those totals are expected to stay further south, in the Virginia area, but any shifts in the track of the storm could increase ice accumulation in New Jersey and around NYC.
Further down the coast, we expect all rain due to warmer temperatures.
Expect Monday to be a mess
The Northeast will get hit hardest Sunday afternoon and evening, with residual light snow Monday. Be prepared for travel to remain very difficult Monday morning and expect school, business, and government office closures on Monday, too.
