More than 35 million people from West Virginia to Maine are under winter storm alerts as the Northeast and New England brace for a nor’easter that is set to blast the region with heavy snow, which will significantly disrupt travel along the Interstate 95 corridor from New York City to Providence in Rhode Island and into Boston.
This storm is the same system that is impacting the Southeast on Monday, bringing the risk of severe weather, including possible tornadoes and flash flooding, to millions of people before it continues its move to the northeast, where it will exit the East Coast in the mid-Atlantic and quickly strengthen south of New England on Tuesday.
The FOX Forecast Center said the nor’easter will begin as rain for most people but will quickly transition to snow as the system pushes off the East Coast and begins to pull in the colder air from the north in Canada.
As of Monday evening, 24% of flights scheduled to travel in or out of LaGuardia Airport had been canceled before the storm.
Also, ahead of the nor’easter, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said all New York City Public Schools would move to remote learning on Tuesday.
At the same time, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu declared a snow emergency for the city and said Boston Public Schools would be closed on Tuesday.
Officials in Providence also announced that schools would be closed on Tuesday due to the approaching nor’easter.
New York City, Providence, Boston under Winter Storm Warning
Winter weather alerts stretch from northeastern West Virginia to southern Maine and include major cities across the region, such as New York City, Boston and Providence.
A Winter Storm Warning was issued for New York City, which is the first time since January 2022 that the Big Apple has seen that type of winter weather alert.
A total of 35 million were placed under Winter Storm Warnings, including parts of central and eastern Pennsylvania, including State College and Scranton.
All of Connecticut, including Hartford, Bridgeport, New Haven and New London, are also included in the Winter Storm Warning, as is the state of Rhode Island, including Providence.
The Winter Storm Warning is also in effect for most of Massachusetts, including Springfield, Worcester and Boston.
How much snow will fall from the nor’easter
The Northeast and New England are notorious for experiencing winter storms that can last 24 hours or more, but this one will be a quick-hitter.
However, despite the speed at which the storm enters and exits the region, the snow will come down fast and furious in many areas.
The bulk of the heavy snow will occur just as the Tuesday morning commute gets underway, making for treacherous travel on major roads and highways in the region, including Interstate 95 north of Philadelphia and Interstate 90 in Massachusetts.
The FOX Forecast Center said snowfall rates could approach 1–3 inches per hour during that time. With snowfall rates that high, it will quickly accumulate on roads, only adding to the dangerous driving conditions.
Visibility will also be limited to under a half-mile in the heaviest snow bands.
Up to a foot of snow with locally higher amounts is possible in parts of eastern Pennsylvania, southern New York and southern New England.
The FOX Forecast Center said the New York City tri-state area, northern New Jersey and northeastern Pennsylvania could see snowfall totals of 5–8 inches. The Boston area, eastern Connecticut and Rhode Island are at risk of seeing 8–12 inches of snow.
Power outages, coastal flooding possible
The FOX Forecast Center said power outages are also a concern due to the heavy, wet nature of the snow. As it accumulates, a heavier snow packed with water can add tremendous weight to tree limbs and power lines.
That, coupled with high wind gusts, could lead to snapped tree limbs and power lines, as well as possible damage to structures.
Winds could gust to 50 mph near the coast, which has prompted High Wind Warnings for coastal Massachusetts, including Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
Farther inland, winds could gust up to 30 mph.
Coastal flooding is also a concern as the storm tracks to the south of Long Island and New England, which will create strong northeasterly winds that will cause some moderate coastal flooding at high tide on Tuesday along portions of the New York and New England coasts.
