New York City and the Tri-State area find themselves in the path of a sprawling and powerful winter storm that is threatening to leave a trail of snow, ice and inescapable travel mayhem across dozens of states, from the Southwest through the Southeast, the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
The storm, with a potential historic sweep unlike any seen in recent years, will roar in from the South and reach the doorstep of the Tri-State area as early as Sunday morning.
New York will be on the northern side of a large coastal low that could deliver significant snow to the Mid-Atlantic states.
Our area could experience a moderate to major snowstorm as well, but it’s still too early to know for sure.
There is a 40 percent probability that the Tri-State area could experience 6 to 12 inches of snow, and a 30 percent probability that we could see a foot or more of snow.
Adding to the dangers will be severe cold air that will grip the area.
Inevitably with any storm, there are uncertainties that will shape final snow totals, including the storm track and the possibility of mixing with sleet or arrival of dry air that could take some of the bite out of the storm.
The current thinking is for snow to begin falling Sunday morning and continue into early Monday, setting up colossal complications for travel and commutes as the work week looms.
Locked-in Arctic air will limit any potential melting in the days after the storm pulls out to sea.
Governmental agencies across the Tri-state area are taking the threat seriously and are preparing for a significant snow storm just in case.
Well before the storm arrives, the Tri-State region will experience a brief thaw, with temperatures spiking into the 40s on Thursday before Arctic air returns ahead of the storm.
The high on Saturday will be 19 with a low of just 12, and wind chills will be below zero.
While Saturday will be brutally cold, it will be dry, making it a good day to take care of any last-minute preparations ahead of the storm.
