The storm arrives as millions are expected to travel home after the holiday, raising the risk of flight delays, road closures, and hazardous conditions Friday, Dec. 26 through Saturday morning, Dec. 27.
“A surge of cold, Canadian air will set the stage for a snow and sleet event across the Northeast Friday into Saturday,” AccuWeather Vice President of Forecasting Operations Dan DePodwin said. “When moisture overruns a fresh cold airmass, as is the case in this scenario, the stage can be set for impactful snow and ice, which can cause widespread travel disruptions.
"Coming right on the heels of the Christmas holiday, this storm comes at a time of higher-than-typical travel and can therefore have a significant impact on flights and car travel.”
Forecasters say a wintry mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain will first break out across northern Minnesota and the eastern Dakotas Christmas night, then spread southeast through the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley by Friday morning. By Friday afternoon and early evening, the storm will reach the interior Northeast and northern mid-Atlantic.
“Significant disruption to road transportation is possible Friday into Saturday across southern New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey," DePodwin said. "Flights across the same area could be delayed or cancelled. This includes the New York City area, which is expected to receive a plowable snowfall.
Snowfall predictions:
- New York City, NY: 3-6 inches
- Long Island, NY: 3-6 inches
- Albany, NY: 3-6 inches
- Hudson Valley, NY: 3-6 inches, with 6-12 inches farther west and north
- Hartford, CT: 3-6 inches
- Northern NJ: 3-6 inches
- Boston, MA: 1-3 inches
- Springfield, MA: 3-6 inches
- Philadelphia, PA: 1-3 inches
- Baltimore, MD: Coating to an inch
- Washington, DC: Coating to an inch
Heavier snow bands could drop 6-12 inches in parts of the Catskill Mountains and near Thunder Bay, Ontario. AccuWeather says local totals could reach up to 15 inches in spots.
Sleet and ice will mix in across southern New York and central Pennsylvania, likely limiting total snowfall but worsening travel.
“In New York City, other snow events so far this winter have not had fresh cold air in place at the start of the snow. This has prevented a significant accumulation in the city itself, although the suburbs have had plowable snow. This storm is different with plentiful cold air in place at the start,” DePodwin noted.
A significant icing event is also forecast across south-central Michigan and the Allegheny Mountains in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, with up to a quarter-inch of ice possible, enough to snap branches and cause power outages.
AccuWeather urges anyone traveling Friday or Saturday to check the latest forecasts and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions.
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