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Snow is expected to begin spreading across parts of the South on Friday afternoon, Jan.30, and will surge north through Saturday, Jan. 31, as the system undergoes explosive intensification off the Mid‑Atlantic coast before hitting the Northeast on Sunday, Feb. 1.
AccuWeather says a tightly compressed snowfall gradient will set up along the I-95 corridor from Washington, DC, to New York City, meaning “a difference of a dozen miles or less” could separate significant accumulation from little to none.
The most likely region for 6 to 12 inches in the Northeast is southeastern Massachusetts, with 3 to 6 inches across Long Island, coastal New Jersey, and Rhode Island.
AccuWeather forecasters say parts of North Carolina, including Charlotte and Raleigh, could see their heaviest snowfall in decades, with 6 to 12 inches likely in a broad zone from central North Carolina into southeastern Virginia.
AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said cold air interacting with the system could even create “enough instability for a few flurries near Tampa Bay,” noting that measurable snow in the area is “exceptionally rare.”
Strong winds and near‑whiteout conditions are expected along the coast from North Carolina to Cape Cod, where AccuWeather highlights a corridor of blizzard potential Saturday afternoon into Sunday. Peak wind gusts of 30 to 50 mph are forecast across much of the Northeast, with 50 to 70 mph possible in eastern Massachusetts and coastal Maine.
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Scott Homan warned of dangerous beach erosion and flooding:
“Beach erosion is one of the hidden hazards of powerful winter coastal storms. With a full moon this weekend, astronomical tides will be higher than normal. That means even a modest storm surge can push water much farther inland than people expect. Coastal residents need to be prepared for flooding near high tide.”
Air and road travel may become “treacherous, if not shut down,” AccuWeather says, with major airports from Charlotte to Boston likely to experience significant delays. Power outages are also possible due to heavy snow, strong winds, and coastal inundation.
The storm will sweep north into Sunday before pulling away Sunday evening, followed by a surge of Arctic air that will bring freezing temperatures deep into the Southeast.
Check back to Daily Voice for the latest on the storm’s track and updated snowfall forecasts.
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