Storm and Lake Effect Prolong Midwestern, New England Snow

A major winter storm will thrash the nation's northeastern quadrant with high winds and heavy snow through tonight and beyond. 

An intense low pressure system is drifting across southeastern Canada tonight, which will then head towards Atlantic Canada on Tuesday. Behind this system, high winds shift eastward as temperatures drop sharply with the arrival of an Arctic air mass. This particularly cold air and northwesterly winds will enable lake-effect snow bands to form across the Great Lakes and prolong the snowfall. These bands will wax and wane through most of the workweek across multiple other disturbances.

Snow will continue to pile up across the western fringe of the low pressure system across the eastern Great Lakes region. Through tonight, most areas here will observe additional accumulations of 2 to 5 inches of snow, with similar accumulations as well as along the peaks of central Appalachia. However, a few areas downwind of the eastern Great Lakes will see locally higher additions of 5 to 12 inches.

Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories cover parts of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, western portions of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, far northern Indiana, northeastern Ohio, northwestern Pennsylvania, western New York, and northern Maine. Lake Effect Snow Warnings are also in place for parts of northeastern Ohio, northwestern Pennsylvania, and western New York.

Moderate to strong winds and impactful gusts are also lashing a majority of the central and eastern U.S., mainly behind the storm's cold front and especially as the low pressure deepens in strength. Wind gusts will frequently range between 40 to 50 mph or slightly higher in the eastern Great Lakes, the Mid-Atlantic, Appalachia, and the Northeast. Wind Advisories are in effect over the Appalachian spine through western Maine.

Be sure to download the WeatherBug app to stay up to date on the latest on this changing weather. It is never too early to have a supply kit packed in case of inclement weather. A simple kit including a weather radio, water, blankets, batteries, and non-perishable food items will go a long way in the event of a power outage.