Washington, DC received several inches of snow, the first time that more than an inch was measured in more than two years.
“This next storm will not have the northern impact of the week and 18-36 inches is certainly not the forecast this time around,” said CNN meteorologist Taylor Ward.
“However, there will be a 4-8” streak from the south of the Appalachians, passing through the mid-Atlantic and entering the Northeast. If the low pressure is able to follow closer to the coast, these forecasted totals could increase, “said Ward.
Snow time
Low pressure will develop on the southeastern coast of the United States on Saturday night and increase on the east coast as it strengthens.
Snow will begin Saturday night at the highest elevations in northern Georgia and the western Carolinas.
Traveling can become dangerous with temperatures close to or freezing, causing slippery conditions.
A different climatic disturbance from the west will also bring up to two inches of snow for much of the Ohio River Valley. This disturbance will be absorbed by the developing coastal storm.
On Sunday, an expansive snow shield will reach much of the middle of the Atlantic as it approaches New England. The flakes may even fall in the Delmarva region, depending on the Nor’easter’s trajectory.
The snow will end in the middle of the Atlantic on Sunday night, as the system will quickly leave the coast.
Light to moderate snow will still be possible in New England before all locations see the end of snowfall on Monday morning.
Uncertain track
This nor’easter can follow a very favorable trail that past storms have followed, allowing snow on most of the I-95 corridor, even in coastal locations.
“Unlike the storm at the beginning of the week, where Cape Cod received mostly rain, there will be more cold air at the site due to the downtown trail and they could end up having the highest snowfalls in this storm,” said Ward.
The model orientation is not locked to the exact track, however, any movement will affect the forecast. If the storm goes further west, it will cause rain and mixed precipitation near the coast. A more offshore runway will concentrate the snow on the coast and very little further inland.
Winter storm warnings are in effect from Georgia to Massachusetts, highlighting that the risk of impacting blizzards is high.
Temperatures are forecast to be close to or slightly above the freezing mark near major cities in the middle of the Atlantic, such as Washington, DC and Philadelphia.
Across New York City and New England, temperatures are likely to be milder. Widespread temperatures are forecast in the 1920s in the interior, favoring snow thanks to the cold air that arrives from the north.
“This low looks like a classic snow maker from 4 to 8 inches, with quantities dependent on the track. At the moment, all models […] are too far east to place those higher values across the [New York City area], “according to the National Weather Service office in New York.
In addition to the snow, some strong winds will be possible.
Stronger winds are expected on the southeast coast of Massachusetts and on the islands, where gusts can exceed 40 mph. This will reduce visibility and potentially lead to blizzard conditions.