A sprawling storm system that is forecast to bring winter weather from North Carolina to New England this weekend could have a “significant” impact as it moves up the East Coast, a meteorologist said on Thursday, warning of a storm that could snarl traffic along the Interstate-95 corridor and threaten power outages to millions.
The storm is a major threat to almost a dozen states but its exact track remains uncertain as of Thursday morning. “There’s still a lot of inconsistencies in the model runs, especially over the last couple of days, where they’re waffling back and forth,” said Tiffany Fortier, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in New York.
The models are showing tracks to the west and east, she said, and their lack of agreement was making this storm “very complex.” Later on Thursday, forecast models may begin to show a more confident track, especially for the New York City region, where the storm could be “hit or miss,” she said.
The next storm will bring more snow to the East Coast. This region already saw a lot of snow this month, with a system that left hundreds of drivers stranded south of Washington, D.C.
“It’s always better to be overprepared than underprepared,” Ms. Fortier said. “Because there is so much uncertainty, the best recommendation is to keep an eye out and just stay updated with your local Weather Service office.”
Here’s a look at what to expect from this weekend’s storm.
It’s going to start in the South by Friday evening.
According to the Weather Service, the storm would likely form east of the Carolinas by Friday night. Light snow could fall across the central Appalachians, Mid-Atlantic and other areas by Friday evening. The storm will then push north, where snow accumulations may exceed a foot. Forecasters warn of strong winds and flooding in certain areas. As of Thursday morning, a winter storm watch was in place for the entire weekend. It spanned from Eastern North Carolina through New England.
What’s the forecast for the Mid-Atlantic states?
According to the Weather Service, a snowstorm watch was in effect Friday night through Saturday for large portions of Maryland and Delaware. It also applied to parts of far southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and a large portion of New Jersey. Snow accumulations in the region could reach nine inches, but coastal New Jersey counties could see 12 inches.
Rain will begin to fall as precipitation in Central North CarolinaBefore it was converted to snow on Friday evening. The area was then expected to see several bands of snow moving across it before slowly ending Saturday morning. Similarly, portions of VirginiaMaryland will experience rain first, then snow, with some areas expecting to see up to a foot. Although only a few inches could be seen in Richmond, Va., it was not clear how much. the Washington, D.C., region.
New York’s weather forecast is extremely uncertain.
Forecasters warned of heavy snow and strong winds in the eastern New York City region from Friday night through Saturday night. However, they stressed that there is no way to know if it will happen. “unusual amount of uncertainty”In snow amounts
Lee Goldberg, a meteorologist at ABC 7 New York, predicted that eastern Long Island, and the southeastern part of New England, would have the best chance of blizzard conditions and one foot or more of snow. The New York City region and its surrounding areas could see up to six inches of snow — or as much as 12 inches depending on the storm’s track. Areas to the west and north of the city were expected to receive only a few inches, or none at all.
How will the storm impact New England?
The Weather Service stated that heavy snowfall and strong winds are expected to be prevalent in New England. This could cause some damage, scattered power outages, and blowing snow across the region. Possible coastal flooding and beach erosion are also possible. From Friday night through Saturday, portions of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut were under winter storm watch.
The region could see up to 18 inches of snowCape Cod has wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour. According to meteorologists, travel conditions could be very difficult or impossible. Some areas further west, such as Springfield, Mass. and Danbury, Conn. could see lower snow amounts.
Source: NY Times
