Winter Storm Fern Approaching New York City
A significant winter storm is on its way to New York City, with forecasts suggesting it could bring as much as 16 inches of snow, starting between 3 a.m. and 9 a.m. this Sunday.
However, the most severe impacts are anticipated in the western and northern suburbs of the city, where this storm, referred to as “Winter Storm Fern,” is expected to hit hardest.
Tom Kines, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather, strongly advised against traveling on Sunday. “Take care of your errands on Saturday and then just stay home,” he recommended.
Kines foresees a “travel disaster” affecting roads and airports across the three affected states but mentioned that the heavy snowfall should taper off by noon on Monday.
Essentially, if you can, plan to remain indoors on Sunday.
Kines added, “The sidewalks will remain uncleared for some time.” He emphasized, “I don’t believe there will be any safe travel options on Sunday.”
Areas north and west of Manhattan, such as the Hudson Valley, could be particularly hard-hit, with one forecaster estimating upward of 20 inches of snow in those regions.
Along the coast, including parts of Long Island, there may be more of a mix of slush and ice rather than straightforward snowfall, Kines noted.
If the storm drifts northward, a more moderate projection estimates about 4 to 8 inches of snow across much of the city and tri-state area.
This storm poses a risk to 40 U.S. states, potentially impacting around 250 million people, all while temperatures in New York City are expected to drop to the low teens this weekend.
As the storm approaches, the city will be braving temperatures as low as 13 degrees on Saturday and 19 degrees on Sunday, according to forecasts from AccuWeather.
Looking ahead, Monday’s low is projected to reach 12 degrees, with a return to more typical temperatures in the 20s and 30s expected by late next week.
