A dangerous winter storm is set to impact travel across the Midwest and Northeast with heavy snow, freezing rain, and sleet expected in several states through Thursday. This storm will significantly affect road and air travel from the Midwest to the mid-Atlantic and New England coastlines as it moves eastward. Power outages are a major concern due to the accumulation of freezing rain on trees and power lines, followed by strong winds following the storm’s passage.
Snowfall is forecasted to move eastward through the Great Lakes region, northern Wisconsin, northern lower Michigan, and the Upper Peninsula, with snowflakes continuing into southern Canada and portions of New England as the storm moves offshore on Thursday. The Adirondack, Green, and White mountains are expected to receive the highest snowfall amounts.
On the warmer southern side of the storm, rain and thunderstorms are expected to impact areas from the Tennessee Valley to the North Carolina coastline, with some storms possibly producing hail and strong winds. Ice accumulations above 0.10 inches are expected from northeastern Indiana through to northwestern Virginia, posing a significant hazard to commuters along major roadways.
As the storm progresses into New England, most snowfall will be limited to mountainous areas, with up to an inch of snow possible in the I-95 corridor. The New York City metropolitan area will be closely monitored for changing conditions as temperatures drop, potentially leading to a brief snowfall before transitioning to sleet and rain during the Thursday morning commute.
Temperatures are expected to rise above 40 degrees Fahrenheit by Thursday afternoon as the storm moves towards the New England coastline, aiding in melting any accumulated snow. Thunderstorms will develop in the Tennessee Valley and continue into south-central Kentucky, maintaining wet conditions through the remainder of the storm’s path.
Over the weekend, rounds of storms are expected to impact various regions as highlighted by meteorologist Buckingham. The primary concern within these thunderstorms on Wednesday afternoon and overnight will be hail. Most of the thunderstorms are forecasted to develop south of the Ohio River, affecting parts of Kentucky and Tennessee. Cities such as Nashville and Jackson, Tennessee, are advised to remain weather aware through Wednesday night as the storms erupt.
Following the storm’s departure from the Great Lakes on Thursday, winds picking up to speeds of up to 40 mph will be prevalent from Wisconsin to Michigan. The fallen snow from Wednesday and Wednesday night may be blown across roadways, potentially causing brief limitations in visibility.
By Friday, the winds are projected to peak along the higher terrain in the Laurel Highlands and northern areas of Pennsylvania before intensifying across the Green and White Mountains in New England. The AccuWeather Local StormMax™ for wind during Thursday to Friday is expected to reach 65 mph.
As the initial storm concludes on Thursday and the winds intensify, meteorologists at AccuWeather caution that another storm is anticipated to follow closely behind through the Northeast over the upcoming weekend. Similar impacts are expected, including snow, ice, and a corridor of rain or thunderstorms as the subsequent storm progresses from the Central states to the East Coast from Friday night to Sunday morning.
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