NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK — A fast-moving Alberta clipper system is expected to sweep across parts of the Northeast United States early Tuesday, December 23, bringing light snowfall and minor travel impacts across portions of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Southern New England. While the system is not expected to be a major winter storm, forecasters warn it could still affect the Tuesday morning commute in several high-population areas.
Current guidance suggests the clipper will be moisture-starved as it moves east, limiting snowfall totals but still producing enough accumulation in colder inland areas to create slick road conditions.
Clipper System Expected to Remain Weak but Widespread
Meteorologists tracking the December 23 system say the clipper will likely struggle to tap into deep moisture as it travels eastward. As a result, snowfall amounts are expected to remain generally light, especially closer to the coast.
However, cold air damming (CAD) has trended stronger in recent forecasts, a factor that may allow light snow to extend farther south and west than initially expected. This stronger CAD setup favors a southwestward shift in the snow axis, increasing the chance for minor accumulations in parts of the interior Northeast.
Snowfall Forecast: Heaviest Totals Inland
Based on current projections, the highest snowfall totals are expected across central and northern Pennsylvania, where 2 to 4 inches of snow may accumulate, particularly north of Interstate 80 and toward the New York border…