7:00 AM | **A major and long-duration coastal storm will pound much of the Northeast US over the next few days**

6-Day Forecast

Today

Thickening clouds, cold, a little light snow, sleet and/or rain possible at times, in the mid-to-upper 30’s

Tonight

Cloudy with steady rain developing, likely freezing on some surfaces N and W of the District, cold, lows in the low-to-mid 30's

Tuesday

Cloudy and breezy with periods of rain, low-to-mid 40’s

Tuesday Night

Cloudy and windy with chance for rain, possibly mixing with sleet and/or snow at times late in areas N and W of the District, cold, low-to-mid 30’s

Wednesday

Mostly cloudy with the chance for rain and/or snow showers, perhaps even a heavier snow squall, windy, cold, near 40 degrees

Thursday

Variable clouds, breezy, cold, snow showers still possible, near 40 degrees

Friday

Mostly sunny, cold, low-to-mid 40’s

Saturday

Mostly sunny, not as cold, near 50 degrees

Discussion

A major storm will ride slowly up the coast over the next few days and it will bring nasty weather to much of the northeast part of the country ranging from heavy rain and wind in coastal areas to significant, accumulating snow in inland, higher elevation locations. A dome of high pressure extending from the Northern Plains to eastern Canada will inhibit this developing coastal storm from moving quickly up the coastline and this will lead to a prolonged period of heavy precipitation throughout much of the Northeast US. In fact, the storm is likely to stall out or even take a loop after it reaches the Long Island or southern New England region Tuesday night as it's movement will be stymied by stubborn high pressure.

An area of "ocean-effect" light precipitation has broken out across southern New Jersey in the last couple of hours thanks to persistent NE winds. As a result, don't be surprised to see a little rain, sleet or snow during the next few hours well ahead of any effects from the now unfolding coastal storm. This light precipitation is moving inland with low-level wind flow from the northeast to the southwest. The heaviest rainfall from this impending storm will likely fall to our northeast from Philly-to-NYC; however, an inch or more is possible in throughout the DC metro region. The best chance for significant snowfall accumulations will extend from the mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania to interior New England where more than a foot can easily fall by early Wednesday. Our best chance for any frozen precipitation from the coastal storm - in addition to any light stuff that falls today from the "ocean-effect" - will occur at the onset of the steadier precipitation event tonight N and W of the District with potential freezing rain and then on the back side of the storm from late Tuesday night into Thursday when snow showers can develop and perhaps even a heavier snow squall or two. Coastal sections from the Delmarva Peninsula to Long Island could see winds gusting past 50 mph during the height of this major nor’easter on Tuesday with coastal flooding an additional concern.

Video

httpv://youtu.be/EPlzQ9515O0