Winter Storm Hits East Coast
ALBANY, N.Y. — Many Americans are waking up to their first significant snowfall of the winter, as a strong nor’easter unleashes a mix of rain, ice, and snow across the East Coast, particularly affecting the busy Northeast along Interstate 95. With the start of the La Niña winter season, this could worsen travel disruptions from recent storms that impacted the Midwest over the weekend.
On Tuesday morning, a swiftly moving low-pressure system made its way up the East Coast from the Southeast.
The Fox Forecast Center notes that certain weather models are clearly identifying where rain may transition into snow—this line is estimated to be just inland from Interstate 95.
New Jersey’s Governor Phil Murphy announced a state of emergency beginning at 5 a.m. ET on Tuesday, anticipating significant effects from the storm.
While coastal temperatures might be too high for snow accumulation, heavy rainfall could lead to travel delays at major airports in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Newark, New Jersey, New York City, and Boston.
Inland regions stretching from the Ohio Valley to interior New England are likely to see consistent snowfall.
Winter storm warnings are active for parts of central and northern New York, western Massachusetts, and southern New England, extending all the way from the Ohio Valley to Maine.
The anticipated combination of moisture and cold air is projected to produce 1 to 3 inches of snow in several areas, including Ohio, Pennsylvania, upstate New York, and New England. However, central New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine could receive 5 to 8 inches.
Snowfall is expected to spread further into higher altitudes, covering areas like the Adirondacks and the Green and White Mountains, continuing into Wednesday morning.
The precise location of the rain/snow line is crucial for drivers. It is anticipated that roads in the Appalachians, especially in West Virginia and Virginia, could see a coating to a quarter inch of ice.
Ice accumulation may also pose challenges in elevated regions of Pennsylvania, northern New Jersey, New York’s Mid-Hudson Valley, and Connecticut.
A mere quarter inch of ice can be hazardous for both drivers and pedestrians.
Further south, areas in western North Carolina are also expecting ice, with many communities still recovering from Hurricane Helen, which struck in 2024.
This low-pressure system is set to maintain its pace and will likely dissipate by Wednesday morning.
Colder arctic air is on the horizon for the East Coast by Thursday and could make roads treacherous during the morning rush.
Historically, the La Niña pattern tends to bring more frequent storms to the Northeast, and we’ve seen multiple coastal systems this fall. NOAA indicates the nation might return to a neutral weather pattern by early January.
