Snow, drenching rain to pound eastern US into Monday

A fast-moving storm will bring drenching rain on its southeastern flank and accumulating snow on its northwestern flank in the eastern United States into Monday.

The fast movement of the storm will limit the duration of the rain and snow so that widespread flooding and an excessive snowfall does not occur.

However, the storm is forecast to be potent enough to produce urban flooding, deliver enough snow to shovel and plow and cause substantial travel delays.

"Despite the storm's fast movement, it will tap plenty of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, then the Atlantic Ocean," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Bernie Rayno.

As a result, the rain and snow can come down hard for a four- to eight-hour period.

Who will get snow from the storm?

The storm is projected to bring snow from parts of the Ohio Valley and lower Great Lakes to the central Appalachians and northern New England.

The snowstorm will shift from west to east through Sunday night in these areas.

A long stretch of I-80, I-81, I-86, I-88 and I-90 will be slushy to snow-covered and slippery. Northern portions of I-87, I-91, I-93 and I-95 will be snow-covered.

"The heaviest snow is likely to fall from northwestern Pennsylvania to northern New England," Rayno said.

A swath of moderate to heavy snowfall is also likely to be centered over part of the lower Peninsula of Michigan and southern Ontario to New York state, northeastern Pennsylvania, northern New England and southern Quebec.

Because of a surge of mild air, rain and sleet are likely to mix in and cut down on accumulations in part of the Ohio Valley, the Susquehanna Valley of Pennsylvania, northwestern Virginia and central New England.

However, an average of a couple of slushy inches is likely in these areas.

Even where rain and sleet mix in, motorists should anticipate slippery travel and allow extra time to get to their destination, whether that is across town or across the state.

Airline delays due to deicing activity and slippery runways are likely in the major hubs of Detroit, Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Cincinnati.

Rain to soak southern US, much of I-95 from Washington, D.C. to Boston

"For much of the South and a large part of the Interstate-95 corridor of the Northeast, this is a rain event," Rayno said.

On Sunday, expect downpours to sweep across the Southeastern states and spread northeastward along the mid-Atlantic Interstate 95 corridor.

The rain may be heavy enough to cause brief urban flooding.

Thunder and lightning may accompany the rain in parts of the South and along the Atlantic coast. Locally gusty thunderstorms cannot be ruled out in the I-10 corridor.

Motorists should reduce their speed while traveling on the highways due to poor visibility, excess water on the road and the risk of their vehicle hydroplaning.

Airline delays due to poor visibility and a low cloud ceiling are likely for a time in New Orleans, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City and Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sunday.

A brief period of ice or a wintry mix may occur in parts of western North Carolina and western Virginia early Sunday morning. This includes a portion of I-26, I-40, I-77 and I-81.

Any snow or wintry mix to start will change to plain rain in southeastern New England later Sunday and Sunday night. In Boston, delays from the storm will be the greatest during Sunday night into the first thing on Monday.

Freeze-up to follow storm in northern areas

Much colder conditions will sweep southeastward into Monday as another dose of Arctic air moves in.

While most areas in the South and along the mid-Atlantic coast will dry out, wet and slushy areas are likely to freeze solid over the Midwest, central Appalachians and northern New England.

There may be lingering airline delays in the Northeastern corridor on Monday morning.

There is the potential for school delays and closings on Monday, where snow fell from Sunday and Sunday night.

Report a Typo