A storm with feet of snow, blizzard conditions, a significant build-up of ice, tree-breaking winds and plunging temperatures will close roads, cause flight cancellations and disrupt daily activities over a large part of the northeastern United States this weekend.
The storm is not likely to last more than 18-24 hours anywhere, but it will hit hard and fast. The storm will progress quickly from west to east across the region spanning Saturday and Saturday night.
A state of emergency, with travel restrictions, has been declared for Pennsylvania by Gov. Tom Wolf and for New Jersey by Gov. Phil Murphy for the storm.
The storm will end from west to east from Saturday night to Sunday evening although bands of heavy lake-effect snow will continue off lakes Erie and Ontario through Monday.
While the storm will hit and leave during the extended Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, some schools that are not closed on Monday may be forced to do so due to the prevailing dangerous cold, blowing and drifting snow and icy road conditions. Participants in the Women’s March 2019 may have difficulties venturing to, heady home from and during activities due to the storm.
Crews may struggle to get all roads free of snow by Tuesday in the hard-hit snow and ice locations. In some areas, conditions may still be unsafe for school buses and students to be outdoors.
Swath of heavy snow, blizzard conditions
Where sleet and freezing rain do not mix in, from northeastern Ohio through northern Pennsylvania, western, central and northern New York state and central and northwestern New England, at least a foot of snow is forecast with local amounts to 18, 24 and even 36 inches can pile up.
An AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 40 inches is anticipated over the mountains of northern New England.
“The snow is likely to fall at the rate of 2-3 inches per hour and may do so soon after the storm begins to nearly its conclusion,” according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski.
This rapid accumulation will put motorists at risk for becoming stranded during the storm.
“Unnecessary travel should be avoided,” according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Bernie Rayno. As winds increase during the storm, the dry, powdery nature of the snow over much of the swath will be subject to extensive blowing and drifting by strengthening winds. Blizzard conditions will evolve.
Roads that were recently plowed are likely to be covered up by accumulating snow during the storm or may be blocked again due to extensive drifting snow into Monday.
Drifts of 4-10 feet can occur in open areas of some roads and may require special equipment to remove.
