Cold siege in northeastern US to lay ground for prolonged lake-effect snow this week
A winter storm didn't stop this herd of cows from making their way across the deep snow on Jan. 6 in Kleinarl, Austria.
Old Man Winter will send a reminder that harsh winds and lake-effect snow are in season over the northeastern United States through Thursday.
The recent rapid transition to colder weather was marked by showers, rare January thunderstorms and strong wind gusts that snapped tree limbs and caused sporadic power outages from the Midwest to the Appalachians on Tuesday and Tuesday night.
Moving forward, the combination of the gusty winds and colder air pouring over the abnormally warm waters of the Great Lakes will trigger flurries, blinding snow squalls and bands of heavy lake-effect snow from northwest to southeast from Michigan to parts of Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, western Maryland and northeastern West Virginia.
It is possible that a snow shower reaches all the way to the mid-Atlantic and southern New England coasts.
Motorists should be prepared for highly variable weather conditions ranging from breaks of sunshine to flurries and blinding snow from Wednesday to Thursday from the Great Lakes to parts of the central Appalachians. Road conditions can range from dry to icy and snow covered in less than a mile along portions of Interstates 75, 76, 79, 80, 81, 86, 90 and 96.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo told New Yorkers to prepare for potentially hazardous conditions in a statement on Tuesday.
"While winter weather is nothing new to most New Yorkers, this incoming storm is expected to bring significant lake-effect snow and create potentially difficult travel conditions," Cuomo said. "I urge New Yorkers to use extra caution while driving and be aware of rapidly changing weather conditions. We are monitoring this storm and are prepared to assist our local partners at a moment's notice."
Up to 2 feet of snow may fall in areas where bands of lake-effect snow persist in northern Michigan, northwestern Pennsylvania and western and northern New York state, according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski.
"Major disruptions to daily routines, as well as school closures, can be anticipated in the traditional snow belts," Pydynowski said.
Download the free AccuWeather app to see how much snow may fall in your area.
"While the cold blast and lake-effect snow are typical for January, the conditions will be a shock compared to the mild-mannered nature of the weather in recent weeks," according to AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok.
When compared to Tuesday afternoon, AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures will be 30-40 degrees lower during Wednesday night and Thursday.
It will feel like the air is below zero at times over parts of northern New York state and northern Michigan to the single digits over much of the central Appalachians and the teens and 20s in parts of the Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic coast.
The cold air invasion will set the stage for a large-scale winter storm from a portion of the middle Mississippi Valley to the Ohio Valley, interior South and part of the Northeast this weekend.
Ahead of the potential snowstorm, Friday is forecast to be a cold day with less wind compared to Wednesday and Thursday.
While the track of the storm is still subject to change along the Eastern Seaboard, indications are that a substantial amount of snow may fall from parts of Missouri to portions of the Ohio Valley and southern Appalachians at this time.
Listen to Everything Under the Sun’s host Regina Miller as she discussed the Blizzard of 1996 with two AccuWeather Expert Meteorologists, Dave Dombek and Paul Pastelok who were on hand during that paralyzing storm. Learn how forecasts were prepared back then and how technology has changed over the years, allowing for more accurate forecasts and dissemination of our weather forecasts and warnings.
TradeWx offers protection against financial risks of snow accumulation and other weather events. Learn more on TradeWx.com.
