Additional Coverage:
Winter Storm Alert: Northeast Braces for Major Snow and Ice Event
A significant winter storm is set to sweep across the Great Lakes and Northeast regions starting Friday and extending into Saturday, bringing a dangerous mix of ice, sleet, and substantial snowfall. Residents are urged to prepare for hazardous travel conditions and potential disruptions.
Icy Peril Across the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest
Forecasters predict a treacherous combination of ice, sleet, and freezing rain from the Upper Midwest through the Mid-Atlantic. This icy mix will make roads extremely slick and dangerous. Specific ice storm warnings are in effect for several central Pennsylvania counties, including Somerset, Westmoreland (ridges), Indiana, Armstrong, Clarion, Jefferson, Forest, and Venango, where ice accumulation of a quarter-inch or more is anticipated.
In the Detroit metro area, freezing rain and sleet could create extremely hazardous road conditions, with a winter weather advisory issued for Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties. Pittsburgh will experience a brief window of freezing rain before transitioning to rain, but central Pennsylvania faces more significant ice accumulation.
Philadelphia area residents are advised to complete essential travel by 3 p.m. on Friday and to avoid roads through Friday evening and overnight into Saturday due to the approaching storm. Central and northern Maryland can also expect a slick wintry mix of freezing rain and sleet to develop Friday afternoon.
New York City Stares Down Significant Snowfall
The New York City area is preparing for a major snow event, with winter storm warnings in effect from Friday afternoon through midday Saturday. This includes northern New Jersey, most of Long Island, the Hudson Valley, and western Connecticut.
Snowfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches are forecast for the metro area, with some northern communities potentially seeing up to 10 inches. Locally higher amounts are possible in the Catskills and Pocono mountains. Meteorologists warn of moderate to heavy snow accumulating quickly, with snowfall rates of one to two inches per hour, leading to treacherous road conditions and poor visibility.
This storm is anticipated to deliver the largest snowfall New York City has experienced in nearly four years, surpassing the 8.5 inches recorded in Central Park in January 2022. For the Jersey Shore and central New Jersey, snowfall totals are expected to be slightly lower, around 3 to 5 inches, due to a mix of freezing rain and sleet.
Travel Disruptions Expected
As of Friday, over 1,300 flights across the U.S. have been canceled, with thousands more delayed, according to FlightAware. Travelers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest updates.
Millions of Americans reside in areas under winter weather advisories, with the most severe warnings concentrated in central Pennsylvania, the New York Tri-State area, and points northward. Residents in affected areas are encouraged to monitor local weather updates, prepare for power outages, and exercise extreme caution if travel is unavoidable.