AccuWeather.com

By Eric Reese, Meteorologist

Mar 23, 2011; 6:55 AM ET

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For more information on the upcoming storm in the Northeast, click on this video.

Warm summerlike temperatures last week led many to put a premature end to winter in the Northeast, but a resurgence in chilly arctic air will keep spring on hold, at least for another couple of weeks.

This morning, residents across the mid-Atlantic and Northeast will awaken to a wintry mess on their driveways and lawns as a very cold storm system pushes across the east.

Some areas, including Allentown, New York and State College will have a wintry mix, which could include rain, snow and even some sleet for the morning commute.

Other areas including Scranton and Buffalo will have snow from the onset, which will continue through much of the day.

High pressure over Ontario is to blame for sending a northerly flow of cold air across much of the northern half of the country.

Snow amounts could be heavy across portions of the Poconos and the Catskills, with as much as a foot of heavy snow expected.

In the lower elevations, a general swath of 3-6 inches will accumulate across the southern tier of New York along with north-central and northeastern Pennsylvania.

Farther south across the remainder of central Pennsylvania, the Lehigh Valley and much of central and northern New Jersey, precipitation will fall as a variety of types. With low pressure passing just south of this region, a surge of milder air aloft will move overtop the low-level cold air, thereby, allowing the snow to mix with sleet and rain.

A slushy 1-3 inches of snow and sleet will occur across this area. There is also the potential from a prolonged period of sleet across central Pennsylvania and central New Jersey, which would reduce snow accumulations, but cause more significant ice issues.

Motorists on Interstate 95, I-80, I-81 and other major arteries across the region will have slow travel and should be prepared for icy conditions. In many areas, both the morning and evening commutes will be affected.

This storm system will shift into New England this afternoon and tonight bringing a general swath of 1-3 inches in southern New England and 3-6 inches in some of the higher terrain of northern Connecticut and western Massachusetts.

Over the next couple of weeks, AccuWeather.com meteorologists will be watching for a couple of smaller, faster-moving storms that could bring another shot of snow across these areas.