The Meteorological Authority warned that the heavy snow combined with strong winds could damage trees and cause power outages.
There is still some uncertainty regarding exact snow amounts from New York City to Boston because small shifts in the storm's track can cause snow totals to be slightly higher or lower, and can affect how cold it gets near Interstate 95. And to the south , the precipitation can end with the end of the rainy period. A brief period of snow from around Washington, D.C. and Baltimore to Philadelphia, but temperatures above freezing should limit the potential for snow accumulation.
The ideal area for snow accumulation will likely extend from central Pennsylvania through southern New York and Connecticut into southeastern Massachusetts, where at least 8 to 12 inches could fall between Monday night and Tuesday. Population centers that could be affected include State College and Scranton in Pennsylvania; Poughkeepsie, New York; Hartford. Care of god. and Springfield and Worcester in Massachusetts.
Overall, more than 40 million people are under winter weather advisories from West Virginia to southeastern Maine.
Before reaching the Northeast, the storm will dump heavy rain in the Southeast Monday afternoon, with severe thunderstorms and isolated tornadoes possible.
The storm comes after an unusually mild weekend in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, where temperatures reached the 50s and 60s. Snow cover is well below normal for this time of year across the contiguous United States due to a recent nationwide warm spell.
Forecast for the I-95 corridor
Rain is expected to fall from the south on Monday night, around 9pm until midnight. As precipitation becomes heavier and temperatures cool below 30°C, it should turn to snow from north to south around 3 to 6 a.m., possibly mixing with sleet during the transition. Snow may be moderate to heavy at times during the morning commute before moving west to east in the early afternoon. Long Island, especially the eastern portions, could experience a mix of snow, sleet and rain later in the morning.
The National Weather Service expects 5 to 8 inches in the city and Long Island, but amounts could be lower than that if temperatures do not cool enough. Expectations rise to 8 to 12 inches in the lower Hudson Valley.
Small shifts in the storm's track can push these forecast totals higher or lower.
The area from Newark to Long Island, including New York City, is under a winter storm watch, while winter storm warnings are in effect in the Northwest.
Wind gusts Tuesday and Tuesday could reach 30 to 40 mph around the city and 40 to 50 mph on Long Island.
A mix of rain and snow should arrive early Tuesday around 4 to 7 a.m., then change to full snow around 7 to 9 a.m. with temperatures dropping to near or below freezing, meaning deterioration Conditions on the morning commute. The snow is expected to be moderate to heavy at times before moving in early Tuesday evening.
The weather service office serving Boston warned of “hazardous travel” between the morning and afternoon Tuesday, with snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour and “brief occurrences” of 3 to 4 inches per hour.
Snow totals are expected to range from 7 to 13 inches, according to the NWS.
“Local totals of over a foot are possible from the north [Connecticut and Rhode Island] Along and south [Massachusetts]The weather service wrote.
Small shifts in the storm's track can move these forecast totals higher or lower. The entire area is under a winter storm warning.
Winds could reach 30 to 45 mph on Tuesday around Boston, and 40 to 55 mph on Cape Cod. Moderate coastal flooding is possible in eastern Massachusetts, where the weather service is forecasting up to 3.5 feet at high tide Tuesday afternoon.
Scattered rain showers are expected to fall Monday afternoon around 3 to 6 p.m., becoming more consistent during the evening and heavy at times during the night until Tuesday morning. Rain could mix with or change to snow around 6 to 9 a.m., and possibly mix with sleet, before moving from west to east around noon.
Temperatures appear to remain above freezing, which would limit the possibility of snowfall in the city to about an inch or less. The best chance for snow accumulation is in the grassy areas north of town, where up to 1 to 2 inches could fall. Small shifts in the storm's track can change the forecast to a slightly snowy forecast.
Wind speeds on Tuesday could reach 25 to 35 mph.
Scattered showers are likely Monday afternoon around 2 to 5 p.m., and the rain is expected to become more consistent during the evening and heavy at times overnight. The snow may mix or change until about 6 to 9 a.m. Tuesday, especially north and northwest of the cities, before precipitation leaves the region from west to east around 10 a.m. until noon.
Temperatures should remain above freezing throughout the storm, with only a chance of light snow accumulation, especially in grassy areas north and northwest of D.C. and Baltimore. A little mud on sidewalks and roads is possible in the far northern and northwest D.C. suburbs in Carroll, Frederick and northern Loudoun counties.
Winds could reach 30 to 40 mph Tuesday afternoon.
Inland and mountain snow
Inland snowfall could range from about 8 to 12 inches across much of central and northeastern Pennsylvania, the central Hudson Valley, Connecticut, and parts of Rhode Island and central Massachusetts, with locally higher amounts. Much of this area is under a winter storm warning.
Smaller amounts, about 3 to 6 inches, are likely in western Maryland, parts of West Virginia, and southern parts of New Hampshire and Vermont.
Small shifts in the storm's track could cause these totals to fluctuate up or down a few inches.
Jason Samino contributed to this report.
