A quick-moving weather system is bringing more snow to areas where winter temperatures are already unusually high. This follows a historic winter storm that dumped significant snowfall across the Northeast.
According to the FOX Prediction Center, active weather is set to persist in the eastern U.S. as a low-pressure system is projected to move through the northern states into the Great Lakes and then onward to New England.
Friday saw the impact of this fast-acting clipper system in the Great Lakes and Northeast, with conditions expected to last into Saturday.
The snow is advancing from Canada, crossing the Great Lakes and heading toward the Northeast, potentially affecting sections of Interstate 95 during the coldest blast of air this season.
New York City might accumulate an additional 1 to 3 inches of snow, while Philadelphia and Albany are likely to get around an inch. Higher areas in West Virginia could see even more, as a winter storm watch is in effect, indicating 5 to 8 inches of snow is possible there.
Boston and the Massachusetts coast could also experience marine development, with snow totals ranging from 3 to 5 inches expected by Saturday afternoon.
This snowfall could exacerbate conditions in areas that are already dealing with significant winter precipitation. The FOX Prediction Center reports that the leeward regions of the Great Lakes and much of the Northeast are currently experiencing snowfall at 110% to 200% of typical seasonal averages.
The system is anticipated to reach the Atlantic Ocean by Sunday, likely strengthening into a more organized coastal system as it moves offshore.
Alongside a strong high-pressure front in the west, increasing pressure differences are predicted to generate strong winds through Saturday, with gusts expecting to reach 30 to 40 mph in many Northeast areas. This could lead to visibility challenges due to blowing snow.
There are alerts for potential snow squalls in northern New York, western Pennsylvania, and interior New England, where visibility can drop sharply and snow accumulations can happen quickly—drivers should be cautious if traveling late Friday into Saturday.
In the frigid Arctic conditions this weekend, rain is expected across the Northeast, creating perilous situations as wind chills may drive temperatures down to as low as -25 degrees.
The combination of strong northwest winds will also carry with it an influx of polar air into heavily populated cities like Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. The National Weather Service is keeping a vigilant eye on the weather conditions and may issue a rare extreme cold warning for the Northeast.
Frostbite can occur on exposed skin in just minutes, and extended exposure to these severe temperatures can pose serious health risks, according to the National Weather Service.
