NYC Winter Storm Update: Heavy Snowfall and Hazardous Travel - First Alert Weather

Current Snowstorm Conditions

• ❄️ Heavy snowfall is currently impacting Lower Manhattan, with snow coming down at a pretty good clip and sticking to the ground due to temperatures in the low 20s and wind chills in the upper teens.
• 📊 Radar shows banded snowfall, with dark blue indicating the heaviest bands where snowfall rates can reach 1 to 2 inches per hour.
• ⚠️ Concerns exist about sleet and freezing rain in some areas, particularly central and southern New Jersey, which could limit accumulations.

Travel Advisory and Accumulation Forecast

• 🚗 Travel is expected to be very hazardous, with conditions potentially becoming almost impossible, advising people to stay put if they are not already home.
• 📈 Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour are anticipated as the heaviest bands move through, with potential accumulations of a half foot to a foot of snow in areas under these bands (northwest New Jersey, Hudson Valley, Poconos).
• 🌫️ Visibility is severely reduced, currently under one mile in some areas and potentially nearing zero in spots, leading to whiteout conditions.

Storm Duration and Future Outlook

• ⏳ Light to moderate snow is expected to continue after midnight, accumulating at a slower rate, with snowfall becoming lighter and breaking up after approximately 9:00 AM Saturday.
• ☀️ By noon on Saturday, conditions are expected to improve, with visibilities increasing and the sun potentially breaking through the clouds.
• 🌡️ Temperatures will remain cold through Saturday, with a warming trend starting Sunday (up to 37°F) and continuing into Monday (47°F), before returning to cold conditions for the end of the year and the beginning of the new year.
• 💧 A transition to rain is expected on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, creating a messy conditions.