Old Man Winter to awaken, blast Northeast with cold and snow
By
Nicole LoBiondo, AccuWeather meteorologist
Published Nov. 12, 2021 2:05 PM EST
|
Updated Nov. 14, 2021 12:52 AM EST
The first of multiple periods of lake-effect snow will set off the longest stretch of wintry weather thus far for the Great Lakes region.
A jarring pattern shift is set to usher in not only much colder air across the Northeast into the early week but also the first accumulating snow of the season in some areas. A second storm will follow and could lay down more widespread wintry weather — and even the first snowflakes of the season close to the I-95 corridor.
The first dose of wintry precipitation occurred in the mountains above 2,000 feet from western and northeastern Pennsylvania to northern New England into Saturday night, and it felt more like early December than the middle of November. Cold and blustery conditions quickly advanced and changed from rain to snow throughout the night on Saturday.
Snow was generally light since the storm was quick-moving and departed the region by Sunday morning.
But, since this will be the first snow for some and roads have not yet been treated for winter weather, slippery conditions may develop on roads at higher elevations — even where only minor snow accumulations occur.
The next system will follow close behind, and with colder air already established across the Northeast, it could have more wintry tricks up its sleeves. A clipper storm, a quick-moving system with little moisture available, will dive southward toward the central Appalachians Sunday into Sunday night.
On Saturday, northern New Jersey and the New York City area received severe weather that brought hailstones, some stones reaching up to a half-dollar size. Strong winds were also reported throughout the area that led to downed trees and even a power line that fell and landed on an MTA bus in New York City. The New York Police Department reported no injuries from the incident.
This image, captured Saturday night, shows chilly conditions moving in across the Northeast. (AccuWeather)
Cold air left in the wake of the Saturday storm will allow rain and snow showers to occur over a broader area of the Northeast Sunday night into Monday. Accumulating snow could fall at lower elevations and bring the first snowflakes of the season to some portions of the I-95 corridor.
While lake-effect snow showers will be ongoing downwind of the Great Lakes on Sunday night and Monday, snow will also spread to many interior locations across the Northeast.
"While any accumulating snows should be limited to the eastern Great Lakes and parts of the Appalachians, the season’s first flurries could fly in places like Harrisburg, Allentown and Hartford," Deger explained.
Rayno noted that parts of New England could be dealing with snowfall on Monday as the system shifts off the coast and strengthens. Closer to the Eastern Seaboard, steady, cold rain will dampen areas from the New England coast to the Jersey Shore.
Snowflakes could even reach places such as Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York City, but AccuWeather meteorologists anticipate snowflakes will only reach just short of these major cities.
Cities such as Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Albany, New York, are more likely to experience snow and even some slippery conditions for the Monday morning commute, especially across bridges and in normally cooler spots.
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Even though flakes may fly early this week in parts of the I-95 corridor, no accumulating snow is currently expected. In fact, it would still be quite early for any accumulating snow in Philadelphia and New York City. The average date of the first measurable snowfall in New York City is Dec. 7, and in Philadelphia, it's Dec. 9. Measurable snowfall is an amount of 0.1 of an inch or greater.
On the other hand, in places like Pittsburgh or Albany, New York, accumulating snow arriving this weekend or early this week would be considered right on time. The average date of the first measurable snow in Pittsburgh is Nov.14. Albany's average date is Nov. 16.
Regardless of where snow falls, it will feel brisk and wintry across the entire Northeast as cold winds howl behind the storm off the coast on Monday.
Old Man Winter is expected to loosen his grip on the Northeast by Tuesday. Temperatures will begin to moderate toward normal levels for mid-November, taking the edge off the chill and likely melting most of the snow that does fall into Monday.
The latest weather news check back on AccuWeather.com. Watch the AccuWeather Network on DIRECTV, Frontier, Spectrum, fuboTV, Philo, and Verizon Fios. AccuWeather Now is now available on your preferred streaming platform.
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News / Winter Weather
Old Man Winter to awaken, blast Northeast with cold and snow
By Nicole LoBiondo, AccuWeather meteorologist
Published Nov. 12, 2021 2:05 PM EST | Updated Nov. 14, 2021 12:52 AM EST
The first of multiple periods of lake-effect snow will set off the longest stretch of wintry weather thus far for the Great Lakes region.
A jarring pattern shift is set to usher in not only much colder air across the Northeast into the early week but also the first accumulating snow of the season in some areas. A second storm will follow and could lay down more widespread wintry weather — and even the first snowflakes of the season close to the I-95 corridor.
The first dose of wintry precipitation occurred in the mountains above 2,000 feet from western and northeastern Pennsylvania to northern New England into Saturday night, and it felt more like early December than the middle of November. Cold and blustery conditions quickly advanced and changed from rain to snow throughout the night on Saturday.
Snow was generally light since the storm was quick-moving and departed the region by Sunday morning.
But, since this will be the first snow for some and roads have not yet been treated for winter weather, slippery conditions may develop on roads at higher elevations — even where only minor snow accumulations occur.
The next system will follow close behind, and with colder air already established across the Northeast, it could have more wintry tricks up its sleeves. A clipper storm, a quick-moving system with little moisture available, will dive southward toward the central Appalachians Sunday into Sunday night.
On Saturday, northern New Jersey and the New York City area received severe weather that brought hailstones, some stones reaching up to a half-dollar size. Strong winds were also reported throughout the area that led to downed trees and even a power line that fell and landed on an MTA bus in New York City. The New York Police Department reported no injuries from the incident.
This image, captured Saturday night, shows chilly conditions moving in across the Northeast. (AccuWeather)
Cold air left in the wake of the Saturday storm will allow rain and snow showers to occur over a broader area of the Northeast Sunday night into Monday. Accumulating snow could fall at lower elevations and bring the first snowflakes of the season to some portions of the I-95 corridor.
While lake-effect snow showers will be ongoing downwind of the Great Lakes on Sunday night and Monday, snow will also spread to many interior locations across the Northeast.
"While any accumulating snows should be limited to the eastern Great Lakes and parts of the Appalachians, the season’s first flurries could fly in places like Harrisburg, Allentown and Hartford," Deger explained.
Rayno noted that parts of New England could be dealing with snowfall on Monday as the system shifts off the coast and strengthens. Closer to the Eastern Seaboard, steady, cold rain will dampen areas from the New England coast to the Jersey Shore.
Snowflakes could even reach places such as Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York City, but AccuWeather meteorologists anticipate snowflakes will only reach just short of these major cities.
Cities such as Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Albany, New York, are more likely to experience snow and even some slippery conditions for the Monday morning commute, especially across bridges and in normally cooler spots.
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Even though flakes may fly early this week in parts of the I-95 corridor, no accumulating snow is currently expected. In fact, it would still be quite early for any accumulating snow in Philadelphia and New York City. The average date of the first measurable snowfall in New York City is Dec. 7, and in Philadelphia, it's Dec. 9. Measurable snowfall is an amount of 0.1 of an inch or greater.
On the other hand, in places like Pittsburgh or Albany, New York, accumulating snow arriving this weekend or early this week would be considered right on time. The average date of the first measurable snow in Pittsburgh is Nov.14. Albany's average date is Nov. 16.
Regardless of where snow falls, it will feel brisk and wintry across the entire Northeast as cold winds howl behind the storm off the coast on Monday.
Old Man Winter is expected to loosen his grip on the Northeast by Tuesday. Temperatures will begin to moderate toward normal levels for mid-November, taking the edge off the chill and likely melting most of the snow that does fall into Monday.
Related:
The latest weather news check back on AccuWeather.com. Watch the AccuWeather Network on DIRECTV, Frontier, Spectrum, fuboTV, Philo, and Verizon Fios. AccuWeather Now is now available on your preferred streaming platform.
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