2:25 PM | ***Snowstorm tonight into early Friday with an Arctic plunge; incredible cold next week**
Paul Dorian
Discussion
Current situation Cold air is rapidly advancing southward at this time through eastern Pennsylvania and northern New Jersey and high temperatures have already likely been reached in these areas. It is now snowing on a line from central Pennsylvania to eastern West Virginia and precipitation should break out along the I-95 corridor during the second half of the afternoon. Specifically, precipitation should begin by around 3pm in DC, 4pm in Philly, and 5pm in the NYC metro region. The precipitation can start as a mix of rain and snow in DC, and some ice pellets are possible at the onset near Philly, but all areas should change to 100% snow rather quickly.
Later tonight Snow will become heavy at times later this evening with increasing winds and plunging temperatures. In fact, blizzard conditions are likely later tonight from New Jersey to New England - and as far inland as eastern Pennsylvania – with heavy snow, plunging temperatures, poor visibilities, substantial blowing and drifting. The increasingly colder air will help to produce snow of the “light and fluffy” variety and that combined with the strengthening winds will lead to the blowing and drifting. Temperatures by morning will likely bottom out in the single digits in many I-95 corridor locations and will hold in the frigid teens on Friday before falling to near 0 in many locations tomorrow night. Friday will be a “snow day” for most as numerous schools and even many businesses will likely shut down for the day all along the I-95 corridor from DC-to-Philly-to-NYC.
Accumulation estimates Snow accumulation estimates in the Mid-Atlantic region are as follows:
1) anywhere from a coating to 4 inches in the region from DC to the Delmarva Peninsula with a tendency for the higher amounts to be to towards northeastern Maryland and Delaware
2) 4-8 inches across southeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey with near blizzard conditions possible. The higher snowfall amounts will tend to occur towards the northeast side in places like Bucks County, PA and Mercer County, NJ
3) 6-10 inches across northern New Jersey and the NYC metro region with downright blizzard conditions
The next Arctic invasion with “pipe-busting” cold The Arctic blast affecting the region from today into Saturday will be followed by another one early next week. In fact, the next outbreak looks even more impressive than this first one and it is likely to arrive in the Mid-Atlantic region on Monday night and Tuesday. This next Arctic outbreak looks like it will feature some of the coldest air in memory and will no doubt be a record-breaker in many central and eastern US locations with widespread below zero readings. [Euro model forecast map (below) shows bitter cold air early next week centered over the northern US]
