Nor’easter Prepares to Slam Northeast

A classic Nor’easter storm system will develop and intensify on Sunday, slamming the Northeast with heavy snow, rapid winds, and even coastal flooding through Tuesday morning. 

Multiple upper-air disturbances will begin to coalesce today over a stalled Deep South front, where frigid and arid air clashes with warm and oceanic air. These ingredients will bake up the beginnings of a powerful winter storm by early Sunday morning. The Nor’easter will travel northeastward and intensify along the coastline before exiting to Atlantic Canada on Tuesday.  

Along its path, significant snow will pack into the coastal Mid-Atlantic and New England, with light to moderate totals further inland. Even as far from the coast as the Great Lakes, the Arctic airmass shuffled down by this storm will enable lake-effect snow to ignite from Sunday morning through the early workweek! 

Totals will heavily depend on the track this Nor’easter takes and the temperatures that result. However, from eastern New Jersey through eastern Massachusetts, totals exceeding 8 inches will be likely, with localized totals reaching a foot and a half burying major coastal roadways. Similar snowfall may add onto central and northern Appalachian ridges. Accumulations of 4 to 8 inches will blanket parts of western Maryland, central Pennsylvania, central New York, and central New England through southern Maine. Areas along eastern Great Lakes shorelines can expect similar totals. 

Plows will still be necessary in southern Appalachia, Virginia, and the interior lowlands of the Mid-Atlantic, where warmer temperatures and rain will mix in at times to diminish snow totals. Even still, up to 4 inches could accumulate in these areas, with any wet and dense snow making for difficult shoveling and plowing. Overnight refreeze could make for difficult and dangerous commutes Sunday night.  

Winter Storm Watches, Winter Weather Advisories, and Winter Storm Warnings have been posted for portions of central Appalachia and for eastern Virginia through Maine.  

Along the Mid-Atlantic's coastline through coastal New England, wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph or more will drastically reduce visibility as well as impact any unsecured property, creating blustery blizzard criteria at times. Currently, there is a High Wind Watch for Massachusetts's Cape and Blizzard Warnings from coastal Connecticut and Long Island through southern Delaware!

With Blizzard Warnings issued along the coast from Delmarva to Massachusetts, cities such as New York City, New Haven, Providence, and Boston will see impacts. Snow accumulation between 15 and 20 inches are possible within these blizzard warnings, with accompanying wind gusts as high as 55 to 60 mph. 

Behind the Nor’easter, coastal areas across the Mid-Atlantic and southern New England will also be susceptible to minor or moderate coastal flooding during high tides. Storm surges of up to 3 or 4 feet above normal will be possible both early Monday morning and midday. Coastal Flood Watches are in effect for southern Delaware through eastern Massachusetts. 

Be sure to download the WeatherBug app to stay up to date on the latest evolving weather conditions. It’s 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.