AccuWeather is wrapping up live coverage of the nor’easter that buried parts of the Northeast in feet of snow and left over 250,000 without power. For additional coverage, stream AccuWeather NOW anytime on our website. Stay up to date on the latest weather in your area by downloading the AccuWeather mobile app and visiting AccuWeather.com. And keep an eye on weather news and forecasts by following AccuWeather on:

• Facebook
• AccuWeather Twitter
• Breaking Weather Twitter
• Instagram
• TikTok
• YouTube

Winter storm pummels Northeast

Winds howled across the Northeast on Tuesday as the nor’easter tore through the region. Some of the highest reported wind gusts came from Maine, where a gust of 71 mph was recorded in Frenchboro, located off the coast of Southwest Harbor. Farther up the coast, a gust of 64 mph was recorded in Jonesport, and a report of 51 mph was recorded farther inland near Bangor. The winds didn’t spare New York or New Jersey, where 58 mph and 62 mph gusts were reported in Calverton and Atlantic City, respectively.

Cold air and blustery conditions are making it feel like the heart of winter again across the Northeast Wednesday morning, including areas that did not measure any snow from the departing nor’easter. AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures are in the 20s across most of the Interstate 95 corridor, including in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, New York City and Boston. It feels even colder across the region’s interior, including in Burlington, Vermont, where it is still snowing lightly with a RealFeel® Temperature of 14 degrees. Binghamton, New York, is one of the coldest spots this morning after receiving around 5 inches of snow, with an AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperature of 1 degree below zero on Wednesday morning.

AccuWeather RealFell Temperatures across the Northeast on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. (AccuWeather)

Power outages across the Northeast and New England have fallen considerably since Tuesday as crews continue repairs. Earlier Tuesday, over 260,000 customers across four states — New York, New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts — had been without power, according to PowerOutage.US. As of Wednesday morning, customers without power across those states had dropped to over 149,000, according to the site. Elsewhere, power outages remained high in Maine, where over 55,000 customers were left without electricity.

Dry weather will return briefly following the nor’easter, only for unsettled conditions to return closer to the weekend. “In the days following the powerful nor’easter, an expansive area of high pressure will set up shop across much of the Northeast, promoting a period of dry and settled conditions,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said. As the storm departs, the powerful winds will subside, and more sunshine and fewer clouds can allow temperatures to rise above freezing.

However, moisture streaming northward ahead of the next approaching cold front will result in the return of unsettled conditions across the Northeast on Friday, according to Buckingham. “With the exception of wintry conditions across the interior New England mountains on Friday, many areas can expect rain rather than snow across the Northeast,” Buckingham said. Chilly conditions are expected to return at the start of the weekend across the Northeast, and Buckingham warned it’s even possible that “the lake-effect snow machine can ramp up once again.”

CNN correspondent Chris Nguyen was bundled up in Worcester, Massachusetts on Tuesday evening, telling AccuWeather that while snow is sticking to the ground in the city, snowplows and road crews were doing a “great job” clearing roads. Nguyen compared his earlier situation to “standing in a snow globe” due to blowing snow and heavy winds but did note that power outages were not impacting the city as of the evening hours. For other outages across the state, officials with National Grid stated that more than 3,000 crews are expected to be dispatched throughout the night to aid with power restoration.

A nor’easter brought heavy, wet snow to the Northeast on Tuesday, delivering more than three feet of snow to some locations. New York, Vermont and Massachusetts were the four Northeast states to record 36 inches of snow. In Peterborough, New Hampshire, a town located about an hour southwest of Concord, snowfall totals were just an inch shy of the 3-foot mark. Granby, Connecticut, measured 15 inches of snow from the storm. Granby is located in the north-central region of Connecticut. In Shapleigh, Maine, which is located near the New Hampshire-Maine border, 14 inches of snow was measured. In Starrucca, Pennsylvania, a town located south of the New York-Pennsylvania border, 9.5 inches of snow was measured on Tuesday.

The impactful nor’easter created widespread travel disruptions across the Northeast on Tuesday, with more than 2,000 flights being canceled and over 1,000 flights delayed. As the storm system continues to move farther offshore on Wednesday, AccuWeather forecasters say gusty winds and snow showers could lead to additional travel delays. As of Wednesday morning, LaGuardia Airport in New York City was experiencing significant delays due to the weather. According to an alert from the airport, the wind was causing delays of more than a hour for arriving flights. Boston Logan International Airport was experiencing a high volume of cancellations and delays on Wednesday morning, as well. FlightAware reported more than 40 flights had been canceled or delayed at the Boston airport. The flight tracking website also reported more than 11 flight cancellations and 25 flight delays at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the ongoing nor'easter has brought some of its most extreme conditions to Mount Washington, New Hampshire. Even though only a preliminary 8.7" of snow was reported at the summit, strong winds made for a bitterly cold Tuesday night as AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures dropped below 20 degrees zero Fahrenheit at 5 p.m. Tuesday local time and have remained there ever since, as of early Wednesday morning. The RealFeel® even dipped below 30 degrees below zero at the summit for a time Tuesday morning, with wind gusts exceeding hurricane force at times by Tuesday evening. Of course, this pales in comparison to the astonishing record-low RealFeel® of 114 below zero observed at Mount Washington in early February.

The nor’easter is turning out to be a “unique storm” for Connecticut, Gov. Ned Lamont said on Monday as the storm was just getting started. In preparation, state employees were directed to stay home and work remotely, and all executive branch state office buildings were closed to the public on Tuesday. “This is shaping up to be a unique winter storm for our small state in that there will be big differences in snowfall depending on where you are located,” Lamont said. “Some towns may receive a significant total while others may receive a fraction of that amount or maybe even just rain.” By late Tuesday evening, snow was piling up in the northwestern portion of the state while the eastern side only had a few reports of snowfall above an inch. Power outages were also largely concentrated in Litchfield, the northwesternmost county in the state, according to PowerOutage.US. Over 3,000 customers were without electricity late Tuesday night. 

Airports throughout the Northeast were severely disrupted by the nor’easter Tuesday, including in the hub of New York City. At LaGuardia Airport, 168 departures and 153 arrivals were canceled on Tuesday, according to flight tracking site FlightAware, along with a total of 458 delays. The 239 delays of departures at LaGuardia accounted for 40% of total departures at the airport. At John F. Kennedy International, there were fewer cancellations (77 total) than LaGuardia, but a hefty amount of delays (337 departures and 254 arrivals). Passengers on one Delta flight reported being stranded on the tarmac for at least two hours. In Boston, the Boston Logan International Airport was also cancel-heavy Tuesday, canceling 154 departures and 149 arrivals.

Nearly 70% of the U.S. population lives in a region that receives more than 5 inches of snow annually, and an overwhelming number of the nation’s roadways traverse those snowy areas, according to the Federal Highway Administration (FHA). This means there is a high likelihood that your simple grocery store run or morning commute could be impacted by winter weather at least once. From snow to sleet to freezing rain or ice, winter weather yields numerous types of precipitation that all pose hazards and difficulties on the roadways. According to the FHA, more than 24% of weather-related vehicle crashes occur on snowy, slushy, or icy pavement, and 15% happen during snowfall or sleet. But equally dangerous is getting stuck for hours in a snowstorm in your vehicle. Many people don’t envision themselves in this situation, but the unthinkable does happen and being prepared and knowing what to do can help save you and your family’s lives. “The best thing you can do to protect yourself is to not travel if you can,” AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said, but if you do have to be out on the roads, being prepared is vital.

• Have an emergency car kit that includes a flashlight, gloves, a battery-powered radio, water, extra food and a blanket.

• If you cannot move, stay where you are and don’t abandon your vehicle. It is a good place to take shelter, especially during a winter storm.

• Notify the authorities with your cellphone and pinpoint your location with GPS either on your cellphone or with navigation services in your car. Make sure to tell the authorities relevant information, like how much gas your car has, how much food and water you have and your location.

• If you don’t have any cellphone service to contact the authorities, then it is important to stay put.

• Turning your car off periodically will help conserve precious gas and battery life and reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

• Make sure that your vehicle is visible to others. Using a piece of bright-colored fabric, road flares, or a traffic light behind your vehicle will all help to ensure your car is easily spotted on the road or highway.

Make sure if you have to leave your home, to have a fully charged cellphone as well as a portable cellphone charger for the car.

New England schools have continued to be proactive during this week’s nor’easter, as many have already announced Wednesday closures. In northern Massachusetts, school districts to close Wednesday include Fitchburg Public Schools, Winchendon Public Schools, Gardner Public Schools, Lunenburg Public Schools and Narragansett Regional School District. Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner will also be closed Wednesday. Several schools will open later Wednesday, including a 10 a.m. start for MassBay Community College and Great Bay Community College’s Portsmouth campus. In Derry, New Hampshire, where snow was heavy Tuesday, Derry Cooperative School District also announced a Wednesday closure.

New England power customers have been walloped by the nor’easter Tuesday, with the region accounting for more than 184,000 outages as of 7 p.m. EDT. According to PowerOutage.US, New Hampshire led the region with 72,370 outages, just under 10% of all tracked customers. Outages in Massachusetts totaled above 53,000, with similar power issues impacting Vemont (27,465 outages), Maine (23,042) and Connecticut (10,244).

Connecticut’s outages were almost exclusively concentrated in Litchfield County, where Eversource spokesperson Jamie Ratliff said there was plenty of snow-related impact. “When you get that heavy, wet snow, it’s going on top of those branches, those trees, bringing those trees onto power lines,” Ratliff told AccuWeather. Ratliff said that Eversource, which provides power for Connecticut along with New Hampshire and Massachusetts, has brought in additional resources so crews can work as “quickly and safely as possible." The mid-Atlantic region also accounts for over 93,000 outages, led by 70,469 customers without power in New York. Essex County, located in the northeastern part of the state, accounts for 12,916 of the outages, more than half of the county’s tracked customers.

AccuWeather meteorologists have been warning for days about heavy, wet snow in the Northeast, including accumulation that will stick on power lines. AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter noted that the snow will continue to pile up through the evening hours, including more piling up in the Boston metro area. Snow was reported in the New York City area as well, Porter said, but with temperatures around 35 degrees Fahrenheit late Tuesday afternoon, there is “not a road problem there at this point.” While some snow will taper off overnight, snow showers and gusty winds will still be prevalent tomorrow, specifically in eastern New England.

The nor’easter taking over the Northeast this week has dropped well over 2 feet of snow in several states Tuesday. Four different states have had reports of more than 32 inches of accumulation, with locations in New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts and New York picking up at least 31 inches of snow. The snowfall has also extended into Connecticut (15 inches reported in the town of Granby), Maine and Pennsylvania.

State police troopers in New Hampshire were incredibly active Tuesday, responding to vehicle accidents across the state as snow continues to accumulate. Between 5 a.m. and 12 p.m. EDT, more than 120 crashes and vehicles off the road were reported in the state. Part of Interstate 93 Northbound and Southbound in the town of Londonderry were closed off early Tuesday afternoon due to downed electrical wires. Crews from electrical company Eversource were out on the scene to fix the issue, and the interstate was reopened shortly after. “As snow continues to fall; making travel more difficult, please stay home or avoid unnecessary travel,” New Hampshire State Police wrote on Twitter.

Darrin Davis clears his driveway, Tuesday, March 14, 2023, in East Derry, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Rough seas were spotted off the coast of Maine on Tuesday morning. A Twitter user shared a video of waves crashing down on the beach in Ogunquit, Maine, which is a coastal town about 20 minutes north of the New Hampshire-Maine state line. In the video, gusty winds could be heard and trees along the beach could be seen blowing in the winds. A coastal flood advisory was in effect for Ogunquit until 2 p.m. EDT Tuesday afternoon. According to the warning, localized flooding and beach erosion is possible as the nor’easter continues to impact the Northeast.

Heavy snow will create worsening traffic conditions for New Englanders heading into Tuesday evening. AccuWeather Meteorologist Jake Sojda stated that snowfall rates could be 1 inch per hour in several spots, with some pockets of 2-3 inch per hour rates also in the forecast. Heavy snowfall rates are forecast for the northern Hudson Valley, including Albany, New York, as well as cities such as Hartford, Connecticut and Springfield, Massachusetts.

Winter storm pummels Northeast

“The heaviest snowfall amounts so far have been very terrain dependent, and that may remain the case into this evening,” Sojda said. “So higher terrain areas surrounding these cities can see the most intense snowfall rates, with up to a foot of additional snowfall. Lower elevations, where many of these cities [are located] should see less additional snowfall, maybe an additional 6 inches, but it can come down quite heavily at times.” Most areas should see the heaviest snow taper off by 9 p.m. EDT, with an exception being the Boston metro area, where some rounds of heavier snow should continue until midnight Wednesday.

With many areas across the Northeast receiving heavy and wet snow this week, shoveling the accumulation could prove to be strenuous. Shoveling can be a tricky task, according to a 17-year study published in 2011 in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine, with the study showing that about 11,500 adults and children are sent to the emergency room every year for shoveling-related injuries. The cold weather also increases the likelihood of a heart attack while shoveling, as cold conditions cause arteries to constrict, which raises blood pressure and pulse rate. The National Safety Council recommends several tips to shovel safely, including:

• No shoveling after eating or while smoking

• Stretching before beginning to shovel

• Shovel only lighter, fresh, powdery snow

• Push the snow rather than lifting it

• Don’t work to the point of exhaustion

• Know the signs of a heart attack and stop immediately if experiencing any of them

Berry Greg, of Leominster, Mass., front, shovels snow off the front steps of his home while his wife Myrianna Jean Pierre, behind left, looks on, Tuesday, March 14, 2023, in Leominster. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

A child in New Hampshire suffered minor injuries Tuesday after being trapped by a falling tree in the town of Derry. CBS Boston reported that a total of 16 firefighters and three police officers rushed to the scene just before 2 p.m. EDT, freeing the child from underneath the tree after about 20 minutes. The responders used chainsaws, shovels and their bare hands to free the child, who was then transported to an area hospital. Firefighters said the young girl “was found to be in good spirits” after the incident.

Responders rushed to the scene to free a child trapped by a falling tree in Derry, New Hampshire Tuesday. (Photo via Derry Fire Department)

Photos and videos of large snowflakes falling across the Northeast flooded Twitter Tuesday morning. In Albany, New York, “huge flakes, the size of half dollars” were falling from the sky Tuesday morning, Kaitlyn Jesmonth, a meteorology student, said on Twitter. In Windsor Locks, Connecticut, “big” snowflakes were quickly accumulating on the ground, Linsey Kane, a reporter for FOX61 said.

But why are the snowflakes seemingly larger in size during this winter storm compared to past winter storms? Well, it all has to do with temperature. Lower temperatures favor smaller snow crystals. When the temperature hovers around freezing (32 degrees F), snow crystals start to melt and join together as they fall to the ground. This makes them look larger in appearance. Temperatures across the Northeast range from the mid-20s to the mid-30s, making for ideal conditions for large snowflakes to form.

Over 70 towns in New Hampshire were forced to postpone scheduled elections on Tuesday due to the nor’easter hitting the state. Many of the communities rescheduled elections from Tuesday to March 28, including in the southern New Hampshire town of Francestown, where at least 16 inches of snow had fallen as of Tuesday morning. WMUR News reported that absentee ballots were made available on Monday, even for towns that delayed the Election Day vote. In Bedford, more than 300 absentee ballots were cast by noon on Monday. The delay also pushed backtesting on new ballot counting devices in the towns of Winchester and Milford. The nor’easter is the third time in the past several years that winter storms hampered town elections.

Traffic is stopped due to weather conditions on Route 93 South, Tuesday, March 14, 2023, in Londonderry, N.H. By the time the winter storm wraps up Wednesday, snow totals in New England are expected to reach a couple of feet of snow in higher elevations to several inches along the coast. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

The cumulative total of customers without electricity was nearing 300,000 across the four states that have been severely impacted by the nor’easter, according to PowerOutage.US.New York, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont were experiencing tens of thousands of power outages by Tuesday afternoon, with New York experiencing the highest total. Over 84,000 customers were without power in the state, with the outages concentrated in the eastern half. New Hampshire followed with over 76,000 customers without power, over 27,000 of which were in the southern county of Hillsborough. Heavy snow and strong winds largely contribute to downed trees and power lines, knocking out power. The areas with the highest total of power outages are largely around where some of the highest snowfall totals have been recorded.

Flight delays and cancellations are mounting at airports across the northeastern United States as wind, rain and snow keep planes grounded. Over 800 flights were canceled and over 650 delayed across the region, according to FlightAware. Boston Logan International Airport alone accounted for nearly 300 cancellations with 25% of all flights to and from the airport being scrapped amid worsening weather conditions. Rain switched over to snow in Boston at 1:10 p.m. EDT with gusts occasionally exceeding 35 mph. Airports across the region are advising passengers to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport.

Travelers at The Albany International Airport make arrangements after their flights were canceled during a winter snowstorm Tuesday, March 14, 2023, in Albany, N.Y. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink)

Over 2 feet of snow has fallen in some areas of the Northeast amid the nor’easter hitting the region. Windsor, Massachusetts, located in the western portion of the state, recorded 28 inches of snowfall — one of the top snowfall totals from the storm — by Tuesday afternoon. Farther north, along the Vermont-Massachusetts border, 24.5 inches of snow was reported in Readsboro, Vermont. In eastern New York, where snow-covered roads snarled traffic Tuesday morning, at least 18 inches had fallen in Palenville, New York.

Over 2 feet of snow fell in several areas of Massachusetts and Vermont overnight Monday into Tuesday as the powerful nor’easter moved through the region with heavy snow and flooding rain.

Winter storm pummels Northeast

As bands of heavy snow continue to track across the Northeast, thundersnow was reported at multiple locations in western Massachusetts Tuesday morning. A video shared by 22News Meteorologist Chris Bouzakis showed the moment lightning illuminated the sky in Westfield, Massachusetts, early Tuesday. Westfield is located north of Springfield and west of Boston. Lightning was also reported in Agawam, Massachusetts, which is a town south of Westfield.

The process for thundersnow is very similar to the process for the typical summertime thunderstorm. Charged particles are generated as ice crystals clash together in turbulent updrafts. When the charge builds up, the energy is released in a bolt of lightning accompanied by a clap of thunder. Thundersnow is unusual but typically happens a few times each year during strong snowstorms.

“Thunderstorms during the warm season have a much easier time developing strong updrafts because there is more warmth and moisture to feed on and more instability aloft,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Jordan Root explained. Within the intense nor’easter that is delivering snow the Northeast, strong updrafts have been able to create thunder and lightning.

A driving rain is pelting the Boston area with winds gusting close to 40 mph, and conditions will deteriorate later Tuesday and into Tuesday night as the rain changes to heavy snow. “This is going to be a bad day and night in the Boston area,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Dean DeVore warned. When the precipitation changes to snow, it will significantly reduce visibility and create a surge in weather-related travel delays at airports and on highways. The heavy, wet nature of the snow will cause it to stick to virtually every surface, weighing down tree limbs and power lines. “I’m really worried about power outages,” DeVore said. “I think we’re going to see massive amounts of power outages from the heavy wet snow and the combination with the wind gusting 50 to 60 mph.” As of 11:30 a.m. EDT, nearly 69,000 electric customers across Massachusetts were without power. Those were mainly confined to central and western portions of the state, according to PowerOutage.us.

While snowfall from the nor’easter largely spared Washington, D.C., and its early-blooming cherry blossoms, one aspect of the storm could still disturb the spring-heralding flowers. “Winds will be a problem today, gusting close to 50 mph,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tom Kines said of the weather conditions sweeping through the U.S. capital. “Temperatures will be in the middle 40s this afternoon, but the AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures will be close to freezing. Tonight, with the wind still howling, it will feel like temperatures are in the teens.”

The D.C. cherry blossoms started the blooming process earlier than normal, with over 70% of the trees reaching the green buds stage, or the first of six stages, on Feb. 23. As of March 11, they had reached the fourth stage — peduncle elongation — which is when the flowers become visible and exposed to the elements. Cold conditions, snow and frost can all damage the flowers, and strong winds have the potential to tear the blossoms from the trees. This happened in 2017 when a late frost that occurred March 14-16 damaged about half of the Yoshino blossoms. 

It was a rainy Monday night in the Big Apple, but as temperatures dropped and continued to do so into Tuesday morning, the raindrops stopped falling and snowflakes began to fill the air. The rain slowly switched over to snow by 8 a.m. EDT, according to a weather station in Central Park, with snow reducing visibility across the city. A view of the city skyline provided by EarthCam showed snow and low clouds obscuring the spire atop One World Trade Center, which reaches 1,776 feet into the sky. AccuWeather forecasters are calling for a coating to an inch of snow in New York City with 1 to 3 inches north and west of the city.

Snow falling over the New York City skyline on March 14, 2023. (EarthCam)

Heavy snow covered several roads in eastern New York state by Tuesday morning, prompting bans on certain tractor trailers, speed advisories and other safety measures. A ban on empty and tandem tractor trailers was issued for several roads as early as Monday evening, including portions of I-87 Northway northbound between US-20 to Exit 38B. near Albany. By Tuesday morning, the road conditions consisted of slush and snow, according to the New York Department of Transportation. Snowfall totals in the area tallied over an inch, according to local reports.

A full commercial vehicle ban was in place for the entire length of I-84, from the New York border to I-81, and a speed advisory was in place on Garden State Parkway to the New York state line. The speed limit was reduced to 50 mph due to salting in progress. A few roads had even been closed in both directions following downed trees and wires. Several motor vehicle accidents had also been reported on snow-covered roads, leading to the closures of shoulders and lanes. New York was far from the only state experiencing snarled traffic due to the wintry weather, however. One Twitter user posted a video of a vehicle off the road in the snow in Massachusetts, stuck in the snow. "Several instances of disabled vehicles on I-91 in the Pioneer Valley," they said in the post.

A plane full of passengers slid off the runway at the Syracuse Hancock International Airport early Tuesday morning, Syracuse.com reported. The incident occurred at 7:30 a.m. EDT when a Delta Airbus went off the runway and ended up nose down in the grass off the tarmac. Emergency officials did not say what caused the plane to go off the runway or if any passengers were hurt. The flight was scheduled to fly to LaGuardia Airport, according to FlightAware.com. At the time of the incident, it was snowing with a visibility of less than half a mile. According to the Federal Aviation Association, the airport is still open and operating as usual.

As of Tuesday morning, snowfall totals have surpassed the 1-foot mark in several locations across the Northeast. The highest snowfall total came from Windsor, Massachusetts, where 20.5 inches of snow has fallen, according to the National Weather Service snowfall totals. Windsor is located in the northwestern corner of the state. In Palenville, New York, which is a town located in the Catskills, 18 inches of snow has been recorded. In Wilmington, Vermont, 16 inches of snow has fallen. Wilmington is located in southern Vermont. In Connecticut, snowfall totals are limited to the northwest corner of the state. In Granby, Connecticut, which is a town on the Massachusetts-Connecticut state line, 8.5 inches of snow has fallen.

A ground stop has been issued for all departing flights at LaGuardia Airport in New York City due to weather conditions, according to the Federal Aviation Association (FAA). AccuWeather radar showed a mix of snow and rain falling at LaGuardia Airport. Bradley International Airport in Hartford, Connecticut, closed until 7:30 a.m. EDT, according to the FAA. As of Tuesday morning, Boston Logan International Airport, LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport are all also experiencing significant delays and cancellations, according to FlightAware.

As a powerful nor’easter spreads heavy, wet snow across the Northeast, thousands of power outages have been reported. In Massachusetts, more than 21,000 customers were without power Tuesday morning, according to PowerOutage.US. The majority of the outages came from the western third of the state. In New York, power outages were just under 35,000 as of 6:15 a.m. EDT. The outages were centered around eastern New York, with Ulster County accounting for more than 5,000 of the outages. Power outages have also started to climb in southern Vermont. As of 6 a.m. EDT, over 10,000 customers in Vermont were without power. As the snow continues to fall throughout the day on Tuesday, more power outages are likely.

While several metropolitan areas will be receiving heavy snow this week, Baltimore is forecast to once again miss out on the wintry weather. The city has been bereft of snow during the winter season, only measuring 0.2 of an inch of snowfall. Baltimore’s lack of snow will potentially be a record breaker, with the lowest amount of snow on record during a snow season there being 0.7 of an inch in 1949-50. Snow records for the city date back to the 1890s.

While snow will be avoided, Baltimore will be under a wind advisory from 2 p.m. EDT Tuesday to 2 a.m. EDT Wednesday, with gusts potentially approaching 50 mph. Potential impacts from the winds include damage to unsecured objects, downed tree limbs and power outages. The winds will also help send temperatures plummeting during nighttime hours, with an AccuWeather RealFeel® of 13 degrees Fahrenheit forecast for Tuesday night.

After enduring some of the winter’s harshest snowfall events, more snow is in store for upstate New York this week. Cities such as Lowville (in the northern part of the state), Fulton (about 30 miles northwest of Syracuse) and Canandaigua (about 30 miles southeast of Rochester) are all under a winter storm warning through early Wednesday, with up to a foot of snow potentially hitting those locations. Cities like Rochester and Jamestown are under a winter weather advisory for the same time period.

The AccuWeather WinterCast for Buffalo points to a high probability of between 1-3 inches of snow for the city through Tuesday night. The snowfall will add to a winter season that included a deadly bomb cyclone in late December 2022. At least 39 people died in Erie County, which includes the greater Buffalo area, after over 4 feet of snow blanketed parts of the county. As of Sunday, the seasonal snowfall total in Buffalo stood at 131.3 inches. If 1.2 inches of snow accumulates in the city, it will pass the winter of 2001-2002 to become the fifth snowiest in city history, with records dating back to the 1880s. Upstate New York was also hit by an intense lake-effect snowstorm that dumped nearly 7 feet of snow across parts of the area in late November 2022.

This photo shows snow covering downtown Buffalo on Monday, Dec. 26, 2022. (Twitter page of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul via AP)

One of the most tedious challenges drivers can face during the winter months is removing ice from their car’s windshield on frosty mornings or after an ice storm. Several dangers arise when you can’t see adequately out of your windshield when driving. At least 11 states have laws that mandate the removal of snow and ice before heading out on the roadways. Michael Calkins, manager of technical services at AAA, provided AccuWeather with numerous tips in case you find your windshield frozen with ice and snow during the winter.

• Take proactive measures to reduce the likelihood of having to deice your car. Park in a garage, if possible. Cover the windshield with a tarp, large towel or an old sheet folded a few times. Cloth covers can be pre-soaked in a saltwater solution (1 tbsp. of salt to 1 quart of water) to aid in ice prevention.

• Make sure your car is prepared with adequate winter equipment such as an ice scraper, snow brush, traction aids, snow shovel and warm clothing.

• Ensure the windshield washer reservoir is filled with a winter fluid or “de-icer” fluid that will not freeze in colder weather and can aid in ice removal.

• If you come out to a windshield covered in snow or ice, the first step is to turn the heater on and set it to defrost. Allow the airflow to circulate and set the temperature to the maximum setting.

• Apply a commercial glass deicer spray to the windshield.

• Use a plastic scraper, soft bristle brush or squeegee to remove the ice as it melts.

• Do not use any type of metal scraper. This can scratch and gouge the glass on vehicles.

• Do not use hot water to remove the ice. Hot water can crack the glass by creating a thermal shock.

A nor’easter is a large storm that brings northeasterly winds along the Atlantic coast of North America, and it’s due to these winds that nor’easters can quickly become life threatening. Intense strengthening can occur as the storm moves along cold fronts in the eastern Unied States, especially if a storm collides with a high-pressure area over southeastern Canada or northern New England. The difference in pressure can cause the winds to intensify and even approach hurricane force, or 74 mph or greater. If the pressure drops by 0.71 of an inch of mercury (24 millibars) within 24 hours, it can become a bomb cyclone. While these storms can occur at any time during the year, they’re more common, and often more severe, between September and April.

As a nor'easter continues to strengthen on approach to the Northeast, a wide swath of snow has already begun to cover the region. While some locations along the coast are still reporting just rain, much of upstate New York and Vermont, as well as interior Massachusetts and Connecticut, has had rain change over to snow over the past six hours. As the storm draws closer and temperatures continue to fall, more of New England is set to switch from rain to snow on Tuesday.

Already, accumulation reports have rolled in from the colder spots in the Northeast, many of which are anticipating a foot or more of total snowfall. One such location is western Massachusetts, where 2 to 4 inches of snow has already been reported. Nearby in New York, over an inch of wet snow has already fallen as well. Forecasters caution that the snow has only just begun in the area, and is likely to continue through the day Tuesday.

Blizzard conditions will form Tuesday evening in New England, bringing poor visibility for residents and travelers alike. Wind-driven snow will peak between late Tuesday and Wednesday morning for places such as Portland, Maine and Concord, New Hampshire, as well as Worcester, Massachusetts and the northern suburbs of Boston. Much of the wind-driven snow will fall on Interstate 95 from outside of Boston up through central Maine, causing dangerous travel conditions on the popular highway. Blizzard conditions are defined as a storm that brings sustained winds or wind gusts of 35 mph or greater, along with a visibility of less than one-quarter of a mile for three consecutive hours.

One of the largest cities in the Northeast may receive as much snow this week as it did in all of February. The AccuWeather WinterCast for Boston shows a 50% probability for the city to pick up 3-6 inches of snow between 10 a.m. EDT Tuesday and 8 p.m. EDT Wednesday. That outcome would potentially top Boston’s snowfall for February, as the city received 3.6 inches of snow for that month. Boston also has a 28% chance to receive between 6-10 inches of snow, and an 11% chance to receive greater than 10 inches. Peak wind gusts around 60 mph are also in store for the city on Tuesday, potentially causing downed trees, power outages and travel delays.

New York City has been lacking in measurable snowfall this winter, but some accumulation may be on its way to the Big Apple this week. Throughout the winter, measurable snowfall has only come four times in Central Park, totaling just 2.3 inches. This week’s nor’easter could add to the total, said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Carl Erickson, with a “slushy accumulation” of snow up to an inch possible in the city and coastal suburbs. Rain that was prevalent in the area Monday evening will “mix with and change to snow” on Tuesday, Erickson noted, with “temperatures steady or slowly falling through the 30s.”

People cross the street during a snowstorm in the Ridgewood section of Queens borough of New York City on Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022. The Big Apple has been in a snow drought in 2023, with just 2.3 inches of accumulation falling in Central Park. (AP Photo/Brittainy Newman)

In addition to the potential snow in New York City, Erickson expects 1-3 inches of snow in New Jersey and coastal Connecticut suburbs, and 3-6 inches north and west of Interstate 287. Other threats include coastal flooding during times of high tide, along with dangerous winds. “Winds will also be on the increase Tuesday and it will remain very windy through Tuesday night, gusting as high as 45-50 mph in the city and as high as 60 mph near the coast,” Erickson said.

The beginning stage of this week’s nor’easter was captured via satellite Monday, showing the quick-moving rotation that can make for a powerful storm. Colorado State’s CIRA research team released satellite footage of the storm moving off the Carolina coast before it enters the Northeast on Monday night. After rapidly strengthening on Monday night, the nor’easter will hit the southeastern New England coast on Tuesday, bringing along damaging winds, heavy snow and coastal impacts.

A variety of significant impacts can be felt from this week’s nor’easter, AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said Monday, giving a preview of what the Northeast can expect. As of Monday afternoon, Porter pointed out that temperatures across much of the eastern coastline were in the low- to mid-40s, without much cold air as of yet. “This storm is going to have to manufacture its own cold air, which it can do with such an intensifying storm system,” Porter said Monday. “We end up actually bringing down the cold air aloft, and that will help change the rain over to heavy, wet snow.”

Porter also stated that impacts could include widespread power outages and travel problems, including in parts of the Ohio Valley and western Pennsylvania along with the Northeast threat. He noted that the height of the storm on Tuesday could bring snow at a rate of 1-2 inches per hour in some interior Northeast locations.

With travel restrictions beginning to be announced in New York, the state’s governor warned residents that this week’s nor’easter could be a violent event. “This could be deadly,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Monday during a storm briefing. “Let me repeat: This will be a dangerous storm. Please stay off the roads for your own safety.”

The New York State Thruway Authority said Monday that all tandem and empty tractor-trailer vehicles will be banned from traveling in certain locations beginning Monday at 8 p.m. EDT. The vehicles will be banned from traveling from Interstate 87 outside of Newburgh through Interstate 90 outside of Syracuse, a stretch spanning over 200 miles. Hochul declared a state of emergency for New York going into effect Monday at 8 p.m. EDT, bringing in 100 National Guard members to assist with emergency response.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency for several counties in advance of this week’s nor’easter. Monday afternoon, Murphy declared a state of emergency for Morris County, Sussex County, Warren County, Passaic County and Bergen County, effective Monday at 8 p.m. EDT. The counties reside in the northern tip of the state outside of the New York City metro area. Travel impacts have begun in the state as well, as New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti issued a commercial vehicle travel restriction Monday. Also effective Monday at 8 p.m. EDT, the restriction includes Interstates 78, 80, 280 and 287, as well as parts of Route 440. State workers in New Jersey will have a two-hour delayed opening on Tuesday due to the storm.

A powerful nor’easter is set to deliver major impacts to the Northeast, including heavy snow. Conditions are forecast to rapidly deteriorate across southern New England Monday night into Tuesday night. That is when the heaviest snowfall will likely fall from New York to Maine. A general 3-6 inches will be possible from far western New York to the fringes of northern New England. Areas such as eastern New York, eastern Massachusetts, northwestern Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine are expected to receive 6-12 inches of snow.

Hourly snowfall rates on the order of 2-3 inches per hour may be possible Monday night into Tuesday across the highest elevations of the Adirondacks, Catskills, Berkshires, Green and White Mountain ranges. An AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 36 inches is possible in those high elevation areas.

The snow will be “heavy and wet in nature,” according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Renee Duff, which will make travel difficult to near impossible during the worst of the storm for some locations.

For areas like Albany, New York, this winter storm will likely be the largest snowstorm of the season so far. Previously, the largest snowstorm this winter in Albany, New York, was on Dec. 11, when 6.6 inches of snow fell.

Schools throughout the Boston area announced changes to their regular Tuesday schedule in advance of a nor’easter that will bring heavy snow and ferocious winds to the northeastern hub. Just west of the city, WCVB reports that Massachusetts Bay Community College will be closed on Tuesday, along with Milford, New Hampshire, public schools and Pathfinder Regional Vocational-Technical in Palmer, Massachusetts. Blue Hills Regional Vocational in Canton, just south of Boston, will have a three-hour early dismissal Tuesday, with no afternoon or evening classes scheduled. Bay State College in downtown Boston will have a remote learning day on Tuesday. Winds in Boston will begin to pick up into Tuesday, and are expected to reach peak gusts around 60 mph.

As a major winter storm gets underway for the Northeast, many residents might be hopeful that this storm will bring accumulating snow to cities that have missed out on the wintry precipitation this year. But AccuWeather forecasters say many Northeast cities that are stuck in a snow drought will once again miss out on most, if not all, of the snow from this storm.

Washington D.C., Philadelphia and New York City are all experiencing asnow drought this winter, with season snowfall totals far below the historical average for this time of year. In the nation’s capital, only 0.4 of an inch of snow has fallen this year, which is well below the 12.9 inches the city averages by the middle of March. In Philadelphia, 0.3 of an inch of snow has been measured this year, which is also below its historical average of 21.2 inches by the middle of March. Lastly, New York City has measured the most snow compared to the two other cities, with a season total of 2.3 inches this winter.

Typically a nor’easter would deliver snow to these major metropolitan areas, but AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski says since the storm won’t mature until it is near the southeastern New England coast, Washington D.C. and Philadelphia will only receive a little amount of precipitation.

“New York City is still in the running for some snow, but on the tail end of the storm as it pulls away later today to Tuesday night,” said Sosnowski.

People enjoy blooming cherry blossom trees at the Central Park on March 12, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Liao Pan/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images)

Boston could be in the hot seat for this storm. The city has measured 12 inches of snow this winter, which is well below the historical average of 43.1 inches by the middle of March. Any minor shift in the storm’s track could either result in heavy snow or light snow for Beantown.

“Boston’s fate in terms of the exact amount of snow will depend on how close to the coast the storm tracks,” said Sosnowski.

As of Monday afternoon, AccuWeather forecasters expected Boston to receive 3-6 inches of snow from this nor’easter. 

A variety of winter weather alerts were issued across the Northeast by Monday ahead of the pending nor’easter. Winter storm warnings stretched from northeastern Pennsylvania and northern New Jersey into southern Maine, with areas outside of the warned areas under winter weather advisories or winter storm watches. Winter storm warnings are issued when meteorologists are confident that a winter storm will produce heavy snow, sleet or freezing rain and cause significant impacts. 

A winter storm watch is similar but with only medium confidence of the resulting wintry precipitation. Winter weather advisories are issued when light amounts of precipitation are expected that could cause slick conditions on the road. Coastal areas were under storm and gale warnings in preparation for potentially damaging winds.

As a nor’easter is set to bring dangerous weather conditions to New York late Monday into Wednesday, New York Governor Katy Hochul has declared a state of emergency for the entire state. The declaration will go into effect at 8 p.m. EDT Monday evening. “We pre-set emergency personnel to prepare for this storm are in constant contact with local officials and have activated the [New York’s National Guard] to assist with emergency response,” Hochul wrote on Twitter.

According to the press release, the Department of Transportation is prepared to respond to the storm with 3,631 operators and supervisors available statewide. More than 2,200 pieces of snow-removal equipment are ready to be deployed across the state. Furthermore, the New York State Thruway Authority has an additional 400 pieces of snow-removal equipment to assist with storm coverage.

“This is going to be a powerful storm, but we’ll get through it if New Yorkers heed warnings, take steps to prepare, and exercise caution,” Hochul wrote on Twitter Monday afternoon.

The nor’easter is poised to wallop the Northeast with a number of substantial impacts including heavy snow, drenching rain and strong winds. A storm of this magnitude traditionally can pose a serious power outage risk, and AccuWeather meteorologists say that is shaping up to be the case again this week. Locations at the greatest risk of power outages from Monday night through Wednesday include areas closer to the coasts in eastern New England and Atlantic Canada, but forecasters are also concerned about widespread outages for parts of northeastern Pennsylvania and south-central New York, as well as parts of Vermont, western Massachusetts and Connecticut.

A storm is considered a “bomb cyclone” when it undergoes a process called “bombogenesis.” The word itself is a combination of “bomb” and “cyclogenesis,” coming together to describe the explosive strengthening of a storm based on its barometric pressure. This process is measured not by how low the pressure can drop but by how quickly the pressure plummets. When the barometric pressure falls at least 0.71 of an inch of mercury (24 millibars) in 24 hours, a storm has officially undergone bombogenesis.

These storms are among the most violent weather systems that affect a broad area as air rapidly rushes in toward the center of the storm to replace the rapidly ascending air. These vicious winds can cause hazardous conditions, property damage and power outages. The blizzard that struck Buffalo, New York, around Christmas of 2022 is one infamous storm that underwent bombogenesis. The western North Atlantic is a common area for storms to undergo this process as it’s a location where cold air from North America collides with warm air over the Atlantic Ocean. As a result, some nor’easters may become bomb cyclones.