Good evening all! Just a quick note on our overnight / early morning nuisance snow event which may impact some headed to school/work. This system is riding up the spine of the Appalachian mountains dropping snow from northern MS AL TN WNC and eventually sliding NE overnight to Balt/DC and up the I95 Corridor, tapering off well before noon. First sniffed out back on my 11/30 post for the period of 11th to the 15th for a winter storm, this is more manageable than plowable.
Timing: After the current lull, showers move into the tri-state area from SW to NE later this evening, transitioning to sleet/snow, beginning in the NW burbs of NJ (and DC area) around midnight. Temps drop like a knife from upper 40s currently (it hit 66°F in AC today), to the low to mid30s overnight and throughout the day tomorrow. Heaviest snowfall will be before dawn but ending between 5a-7am in nwburbs, and tapering off before noon for all of NJ/NYC/LI (and by earlier afternoon in SE New England). The rest of Wednesday will be mostly sunny, yet blustery with windchillls in the upper 20s. Be aware of some icy spots after dark and Thursday morning as the mercury drops in the low to mid20s (upper teens NW) overnight.
Amounts: Overall accumulations across the tri-state (this includes all of NJ NYC and LI, southern Hudson Valley up to 84 and CT) will be from a coating up to 3″ (perhaps an isolated 4/5″ in the higher terrain or under stronger banding). I expect mainly wet highways with any accumulations limited to non paved surfaces. But prepare for some slippery conditions out the door on side roads where its possible for some accumulation. Also, give some extra time to clean off your cars (there could be some ice below the snow).
For the rest of the week, look for a winter-like day Thursday (low to mid30s for highs) with mostly sunny skies. Temps climb into the mid40s Friday to upper 50s on Saturday but the “warm up” is hampered by rain to end the work week into the first half of the weekend. Any remaining showers clear out on Sunday with seasonal temps (mid40s). Our next system I’m tracking is for next Monday into Tuesday which could bring us more fun and games. Updates coming. While the rest of December doesn’t look to have any prolonged and sustained cold, look for an active pattern to continue with potential storms. I’m sniffing the next period, after this Monday/Tuesday, of the 22nd into Christmas. Details forthcoming along with my thoughts from January through March. If you love arctic outbreaks, Nor’easters, snowstorms and blizzards, well buckle up folks……That’s it for now. Have a great night, careful out the door tomorrow and bundle up. And remember, weather never sleeps!
Spot on as always!