A clipper type of weather system will swing through the northeast on Friday, making for sloppy conditions from central Ohio east to Cape Cod. Most snow will be in the 2-4″ range, with the heaviest amounts expected across central and northeastern Pennsylvania, northern New Jersey, the New York City metro area, Long Island, and southern Connecticut and Rhode Island. Some amounts may near 6″ by Block Island, southern Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard.
The timing of the storm system and the recent warm weather may limit accumulations, especially at the beginning of this system. Snow should fall heavy enough to overcome those conditions and stick, especially on grassy surfaces, on trees, and on untreated roadways. Due to the snow and expected impacts to travel, the National Weather Service has issued Winter Weather Advisories for much of Pennsylvania, the northern half of New Jersey, southeastern Connecticut, the entire New York City metro area, northern Rhode Island, and western Long Island. Winter Storm Warnings are up for heavier snow over eastern Long Island, southeastern Connecticut, southern Rhode Island, and Cape Cod/nearby islands.
While the snow will move out during the afternoon, some lingering isolated snow squalls will hang back and swing through the region during the late afternoon hours. Some of these snow squalls will quickly drop visibility, making travel hazardous. If you encounter one of these isolated bursts of heavy snow, exercise extreme caution. Similar squalls turned deadly just days ago in Pennsylvania.
Cold but fair and dry weather will settle into the Northeast and Mid Atlantic for the weekend. Another area of low pressure will swing much further south than Friday’s system, threatening places from Tennessee to North Carolina with accumulating snow on Sunday.
Once that system exits, all eyes will be on a developing coastal storm that could bring extremely heavy snow, damaging winds, coastal flooding, beach erosion, and a slew of travel headaches up the I-95 corridor late Monday into early Wednesday.
