Major weekend snowstorm looms for Northeast
Millions in the Northeast are bracing for the first widespread winter storm of the season, a storm that could unload plowable snow from West Virginia to Massachusetts.
Forecasters say a winter storm will bring a mix of ice and snow to a swath of the East Coast over the weekend, potentially snarling travel and causing power outages.
The storm could bring 8 to 12 inches of snow in some areas of the Northeast on Saturday and Sunday, the National Weather Service said. It could be some of the first significant snowfall in major eastern cities in about two years.
More than 20 million Americans were under winter storm watches or warnings Friday morning, including those in a cluster of Northeast states and areas around the nation’s capital, according to the weather service.
“The combination of heavy, wet snow and gusty winds in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts may lead to some power outages and tree damage,” the weather service said.
“Gusty onshore winds” could lead to flooding along the coasts in the Mid-Atlantic and southern New England, and freezing rain and sleet could make travel dangerous in the Appalachian regions of Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina, the NWS said.
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New York City weekend weather, snow forecast
According to the National Weather Service office in New York City, the storm will bring the “first significant snowfall to interior locations, mainly to the North and West of New York City.”
The New York City/New Jersey metro area, along with Long Island, are likely to see 1 inch or less of snow, which will develop Saturday night and transition to rain by midnight.
Portions of the lower Hudson Valley, northeast New Jersey and coast Connecticut along I-95 or just north of it could see 3 to 6 inches of snow, while interior portions of the lower Hudson Valley and southern Connecticut could see anywhere from 6 to 14 inches of snow.
Philadelphia weekend weather forecast
Philadelphia will likely just see rain this weekend, “though precipitation may begin or end as wet snow near I-95 with little to no accumulation,” according to the National Weather Service office in Philadelphia and Mount Holly, Pennsylvania.
The Southern Poconos and far northern New Jersey could see anywhere from 6 to 12 inches of snow beginning Saturday afternoon, peaking during the evening and then tapering off into Sunday morning.
Baltimore, D.C. weekend weather forecast
The National Weather Service says precipitation is expected to overspread the area starting early Saturday morning, mostly in the form of snow, with sleet mixing in at times.
“For areas right along and east of I-95 any snow is not expected to stick beyond a coating on the grass and elevated surfaces,” the weather service said.
Any precipitation is expected to quickly turn into a cold rain by mid morning.
Boston weekend weather forecast
“Of all the major cities along I-95, Boston is in position to pick up 4-8 inches of snow from the storm with heavier amounts to the west of the city, where any mixing in of sleet and rain is unlikely,” according to AccuWeather meteorologist Alyssa Glenny said.
The National Weather Service office in Boston says heavy snow accumulations of 8 to 12 inches are possible for areas north and west of I-95 Saturday night into Sunday.
For areas east of I-95, snow totals are less certain and will depend on where the rain-snow line sets up, according to the weather service.
Eastern cities have seen a long snow drought
The last time there was an inch of snow from a single storm in New York City was on Feb. 13, 2022, or 691 days ago. And in Washington, D.C., the most recent storm that brought an inch of snow was 719 days ago on Jan. 16, 2022, according to AccuWeather.
For Baltimore, it’s been 707 days since 1 inch of snow fell and in Philadelphia, it’s been 706 days.
It’s not just the big cities that have endured a lack of snow: “As the snow drought continues along much of I-95 in the mid-Atlantic, snow has also been very lean across the central Appalachians, Great Lakes region and coastal New England,” said Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist.
Amanda Smith is a dedicated U.S. correspondent with a passion for uncovering the stories that shape the nation. With a background in political science, she provides in-depth analysis and insightful commentary on domestic affairs, ensuring readers are well-informed about the latest developments across the United States.
