Watching for weekend storm with snow, ice and rain in Northeast
The jury is still out on how far north a southern storm will track and will determine the amount of snow, ice and rain in the Midwest and Northeast, if much at all. Here's what we know.
Bernie Rayno breaks down who could be impacted by a storm this weekend along the East Coast.
A storm that brought rain and mountain snow to California through midweek will shift eastward later this week and has a chance of tracking in a way that brings snow, ice and rain to part of the northeastern United States this weekend.
Most assuredly, this storm will bring drenching rain and thunderstorms, along with some severe weather, to parts of the south-central and southeastern U.S. Questions remain about how far north the storm will reach, as steering winds may change by the time it moves into the Mississippi Valley to the east.
"While there is not a large area of Arctic air to the north, there is enough cold air for some precipitation to be snow and ice," AccuWeather Senior Director of Forecasting Operations Dan DePodwin said. At this time, the greatest risk for any snow and ice will be from the mid-Atlantic into southern portions of New England.
There are still two main scenarios, but the first is now more likely than the second.
Scenario 1: Storm continues due east and runs off the coast
As the storm moves west-to-east, little to no moisture will reach the Ohio Valley, central Appalachians and the upper mid-Atlantic and southern New England coasts this weekend.
Rain and thunderstorms will occur in the Southern states, then exit off the Carolina coast Sunday night and Monday with perhaps some rain, ice and wet snow reaching parts of West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland and Delaware.
In this straight east track, no snow or rain would reach Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New York City and Boston.
Scenario 2: Storm turns northeastward upon nearing the Appalachians, Atlantic
A shift in the steering winds might allow the storm to turn northward as it nears the Atlantic coast over the weekend.
In this scenario, moisture would spill into parts of the Ohio Valley, the Catskills to West Virginia and the Northeastern states. Even though the air may not be as frigid as it once was, it would still be cold enough to support snow and ice in some areas. However, because of somewhat higher temperatures, if moisture reaches Interstate 95 in the Northeast or the I-70 zone in the Midwest, it may not necessarily bring snow. It could be rain, or some combination of rain, ice and snow.
"Extensive snowpack from the Midwest to Northeast can sometimes delay warmer air from arriving close to the ground," DePodwin said. "This can increase the risk of ice, especially when precipitation begins, even if the majority of the event is rain. It will likely not be cold enough in the coastal cities of the Northeast, from Washington, D.C., to Boston, to support a major snow or ice event. However, some snow and ice is possible in this area, especially from New York to Boston."
How far north such moisture would reach is also a question, even if it takes a more northerly track.
These answers will unfold in the next few days once the storm pushes onshore in the West and begins to traverse the Rockies.
Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts™ are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
Report a Typo
