A multi-day weather event is forecast to bring strong winds and snow to various regions of the United States. High winds are expected across the High Plains, extending into the Midwest with blowing snow. Concurrently, the East Coast is forecast to experience two successive winter storm systems over the upcoming weekend, followed by an arctic air mass next week.
High Plains and Midwest Weather
Millions across the High Plains, from Montana to Kansas, are expected to experience widespread wind gusts ranging from 60 to 80 mph. These sustained winds are forecast through the day and into the evening, with a potential for downed large trees, power outages, and reduced visibility due to blowing dust. Travel conditions for high-profile vehicles could be hazardous.
On the eastern fringes of this strong wind activity, blowing snow is also forecast, comprising both existing ground snow and new snowfall from an approaching storm system. A winter weather advisory is active for areas from North Dakota to Iowa, where gusts between 40 and 50 mph are expected alongside snow accumulations of up to one inch.
First East Coast Storm System (Saturday)
A clipper system is anticipated to bring scattered snow showers to the Midwest and Great Lakes before impacting the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions on Saturday. Light snow is predicted for Wisconsin and Michigan, extending into Michigan and Ohio by Friday afternoon. By Friday evening, snow is expected from West Virginia and Ohio into western Pennsylvania and western New York.
Early Saturday morning, snow showers were observed from the central Appalachian Mountains extending through Pennsylvania and into New England. A second round of snow is expected later Saturday morning. By noon, areas along the I-95 corridor from Baltimore to New York City could experience snow or mixed conditions. By mid-afternoon, Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia is forecast to clear, while New York City and Bridgeport, Connecticut, may see a light wintry mix as conditions dry. Most of New England is expected to experience snow on Saturday, with Boston forecast to see mostly rain or a wintry mix. The first storm system is projected to move out by Saturday night, with snow expected to exit the Northeast region by late Saturday afternoon.
Second East Coast Storm System (Sunday)
A second, coastal storm system is forecast to form off the Southeast coast early Sunday morning and move up the East Coast throughout Sunday. By 8:00 a.m. Sunday, a light wintry mix or snow may affect parts of Georgia, potentially reaching the Florida Panhandle. Atlanta could see snow showers, and Macon, Georgia, is expected to experience more concentrated wintry weather. Rain is forecast elsewhere along the Southeast coast and into the Carolinas.
As this coastal storm progresses up the East Coast on Sunday afternoon, a new round of snow is anticipated along the Northeast coast, affecting areas from Washington, D.C., to New York City to Boston. The precise snowfall distribution for this system is dependent on its proximity to the coast, with a higher likelihood of snow closer to coastal areas compared to inland regions.
Snow Accumulations and Arctic Air
Both storm systems are predicted to bring minor snow accumulations along the I-95 corridor and parts of New England. Specifically, a dusting is possible in Washington, D.C., approximately one inch in Philadelphia, and up to two inches in areas around New York City and Boston. Higher snowfall amounts, ranging from two to six inches, are possible north and west of the I-95 corridor and in interior New England, particularly in specific regions of upstate New York, western Connecticut, and western Massachusetts, especially north of I-90.
Following these two systems, a significant arctic blast is expected to sweep across much of the Eastern and Central U.S. at the start of the new work week.