Northeastern US to get a mixed bag of snow, ice and rain this holiday week
Amid a gentle warming trend, some Northeast residents are projected to receive plain rain, while others will pick up snow or an icy mixture at times this coming holiday week which could trouble travelers.
AccuWeather Long-Range Expert Joe Lundberg forecasts that while much of the South and Plains will enjoy warmth and sunshine between Christmas and New Year’s, persistent cold in the Northeast may lead to bouts of snow and ice, especially around Dec. 26 and later in the week.
The theme for the weather pattern in the Northeast over the holiday week will be a warming trend compared to earlier in the month, although AccuWeather meteorologists say that a series of quick-hitting storms — some packing snow and ice — will traverse the region throughout the week.
Temperature swings throughout the week can range from the 30s to the 50s or 60s from the Ohio Valley through the Northeast. Some locations are projected to have temperatures comparable to Easter rather than the week of Christmas. Any glimpse of warmth may once again be welcome for both travelers and households budgeting their heating costs after the bitter cold many faced during the opening weeks of December.
Early week: Snow, ice and rain for some
On Monday, the first storm of the week will begin to advance across portions of the Great Lakes region with snow and ice. With slightly warmer conditions across the Ohio Valley and portions of the mid-Atlantic states, precipitation will transition from a snowy and wintry mix across northern areas with rain and drizzle farther south.
"A period of freezing rain can mix in with snow and sleet Monday night into Tuesday across portions of central and south-central Pennsylvania, resulting in a stretch of potentially hazardous holiday travel," explained AccuWeather Meteorologist Alex DaSilva.
DaSilva added that ice buildup can potentially reach 0.10 of an inch on surfaces across this corridor, while a slushy mixture of snow and sleet could range from a coating to an inch in locations such as Allentown and Williamsport in Pennsylvania.
"Travelers taking to the roads later Monday night or Tuesday morning should heed any roadway restrictions or warnings in place and give themselves extra time to reach their destination," noted DaSilva.
Through Tuesday, the core of the storm will push through New York state and New England, with some lingering drizzle or snow showers along the rear flank.
Accumulating snow is expected to span from southern Ontario, Canada, through northern New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine from late Monday to Tuesday night. While most areas will pick up a general 1-3 inches of snow from this event, locations across the higher terrain like the Adirondacks, Green and White Mountains, as well as southern Maine, are expected to measure higher amounts of 3-6 inches.
The AccuWeather Local StormMax™ for snowfall from Monday night to Tuesday night across the Northeast is 12 inches.
For a large zone, any snow that falls will likely melt in the days that follow due to an uptick in temperatures. Outside of the higher terrain of New England, the chances for a white Christmas may be rapidly declining.
Midweek: A break before another brief round of precipitation
High pressure will migrate over the Northeast by Wednesday, promoting drier and slightly warmer weather as holiday get-togethers commence.
Most cities will have highs in the mid- to upper 40s on Wednesday, from Chicago to Columbus, Ohio, and Philadelphia. Meanwhile, locations farther south, such as Roanoke, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., are expected to trend into the 50s and 60s by Wednesday, 10-15 degrees above the historical average for that date.
By late Wednesday night into Thursday morning, another storm will cross through the Ohio Valley, Northeast and mid-Atlantic states with primarily rain. There is potential for precipitation to transition to a more wintry flavor over some ridges and mountaintops during the early morning hours to start off Christmas Day.
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By Thursday afternoon, many locations will return to drier conditions as the storm exits the region, moving out nearly as quickly as it moves in.
Late week: Another brief storm possible
Thursday evening, a new storm will cross through southeastern Canada into the Northeast. Most areas will receive plain rain, although the chances for sleet or freezing rain will increase across the higher terrain of New England into Friday. Elsewhere, temperatures will be moderate enough to diminish chances for additional wintry precipitation on Friday.
Depending on the scope of Friday's storm, rain and showers could expand to parts of West Virginia and Kentucky or remain confined to the Northeast as the feature quickly passes through. Different scenarios will be at play depending on the position of the jet stream by late week and the amount of moisture available.
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