A developing nor’easter will bring the first accumulating snow of the season to parts of the interior Northeast and Great Lakes snowbelts.
Rain and snow timing across the Northeast and Great Lakes
The storm system begins on Thursday with rain in much of the Northeast alongside increasing wind. Hilly interior areas will see precipitation change to wet snow late in the day. Lake-effect rain and snowbands will set up in the western Great Lakes, while rain spreads through the Ohio Valley with some mountain snow mixing into the Appalachian Mountains by late Thursday.
On Friday, rain and wind will linger in southern New England, the New York City metro area, and New Jersey. More precipitation will change to wet snow in the interior Northeast over hills and mountains, while lake-effect rain and snow showers continue in the western Great Lakes. The Ohio Valley faces possible rain or wet snow showers, with the greatest chance of snow concentrated in the Appalachian Mountains.
Saturday brings lingering lake-effect rain and snow showers, along with lingering snow showers in the Appalachians and northern New England. North to northwest winds will persist across the Northeast. Travelers in these areas from Thursday through Saturday should watch for slushy road accumulations, particularly at night, alongside gusty winds reaching up to 30 mph.
Wet snow accumulates in mountains and Great Lake snowbelts
The best chance for accumulating wet snow focuses on hills and mountain locations across the interior Northeast and specific Great Lake snowbelt areas. Target zones include the Green and White Mountains of Vermont and New Hampshire, the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, and the Adirondacks and Catskills of upstate New York.
Additional accumulation is expected in the Appalachians from West Virginia to western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee, as well as parts of western upper Michigan away from the immediate lakeshore.
Chiller air pushes southward into the Midwest, Northeast, and deep into the Southeast starting Thursday. By the weekend, the first freeze of the season could reach as far south as the Carolinas, northern and central Georgia, and northern and central Alabama.
Daytime highs will remain stuck in the 40s across much of the Midwest and Northeast from Friday through the weekend, while the Carolinas and Tennessee Valley see highs capped in the 50s.
Did You Know? A nor’easter is defined as an area of low pressure off the East Coast that produces winds blowing in from the northeast. While more frequent in winter months, these storms can occur throughout the year.
Low pressure system brings minor coastal impacts
This nor’easter is not expected to be a high-impact storm because the low-pressure area is not forecast to be particularly strong. The pressure difference between the system and high pressure over Canada remains small. Consequently, rainfall near the coast and along Interstate 95 is not expected to cause widespread flash flooding, and coastal flooding from onshore winds will remain primarily at minor levels during high tide.
Where wet snow will accumulate and freezing temperatures will reach
Where are the primary locations for accumulating wet snow?
Accumulating wet snow is expected in the Green and White Mountains of Vermont and New Hampshire, the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, and the Adirondacks and Catskills of upstate New York. The Appalachians from West Virginia to western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee will also see accumulation, alongside parts of western upper Michigan away from the immediate lakeshore.
How far south will freezing temperatures reach this weekend?
The first freeze of the season could extend as far south as much of the Carolinas, northern and central Georgia, and northern and central Alabama by this weekend.
Why is this nor’easter not considered a high-impact storm?
The area of low pressure is not forecast to be very strong, and the pressure difference between it and the high pressure situated over Canada is small. Because of these factors, widespread flash flooding is not expected along the coast and Interstate 95 corridor, and coastal flooding will stay mostly at minor levels during high tide.
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