Major Winter Storm and Brutal Cold Expected: AccuWeather Forecast

Arctic Air and Dangerous Cold

• 🥶 Arctic air is set to arrive Friday and persist through the following week, bringing extreme cold.
• ⚠️ By Saturday morning, high temperatures will plummet from the upper 40s on Thursday to around 11 degrees, with sub-zero wind chills.
• 🚨 Cold weather advisories will be frequent, with the first one in effect from midnight to 10:00 a.m. on Saturday for sub-zero wind chills.
• 🧊 Saturday will be dry but dangerously cold, making outdoor activities unsafe and emphasizing the need for storm preparation on milder days.

Major Winter Storm Details

• 🌨️ Winter storm watches have been issued for the entire tri-state area, anticipating heavy snowfall, sleet, and freezing rain, particularly south of the city.
• 💥 The brunt of the storm is expected on Sunday, continuing into Monday with lighter snow.
• 📅 Sunday's heaviest snowfall is anticipated from mid-morning through early evening.
• 📈 Snowfall totals are projected to be widespread, with 6 to 12 inches expected across the area inside I-287.
• ❄️ Areas north and west of New York City could see 12 inches or more, while the Jersey Shore may experience mixing, potentially lowering totals to the lower end of the 6-inch range.

Storm Formation and Impact

• 🌊 A key building block for the storm is developing on the California coast, allowing for better computer model sampling and a more detailed forecast.
• 🧊 A potentially crippling ice storm is expected to run from Texas into Arkansas and across parts of the Southeast.
• 💨 By Friday, winds will pick up, gusting to 30 miles per hour, making it feel like the teens and 20s by day's end.
• 🧊 Icy conditions and a difficult cleanup are expected throughout the following week due to the persistent cold and lack of melting.

Forecast Evolution and Alerts

• 🌦️ Initial snow may appear Saturday morning, with steadier snow not beginning until mid-morning.
• ⚠️ Mixing is possible along the Jersey Shore and potentially near New York City later on Sunday, which could impact total accumulation.
• 📉 Precipitation intensity is expected to decrease by mid or late evening on Sunday, with lingering snow showers, especially north and east of New York City into Monday.
• 🗓️ ACUE weather alerts are in place for dangerous cold on Saturday and for heavy snow and afternoon mixing on Sunday.