Winter's not ready to quit. A significant nor'easter is threatening to blanket millions of people across the Northeast this weekend, bringing accumulating snow from the mid-Atlantic all the way to New England. The primary snow window hits Sunday night into Monday morning, which could complicate your start to the work week.
In a broad zone from eastern Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio to the Delmarva Peninsula, New Jersey, southeastern New York and southern New England, 1–3 inches of snow are forecast, with localized totals up to 6 inches. For some areas in the Northeast, assuming the storm this weekend pans out as forecast, this will be the fifth weekend in a row for snow.
The exact track of the coastal storm matters more than you'd think. Even a 50-100 mile jog east or west with the storm will result in less or more snow for millions. Forecasters are still fine-tuning predictions, but New York City, Boston, and Philadelphia are all in the impact zone.
Here's the tricky part: The exact track of this storm, along with how quickly it strengthens, will determine how much snow falls in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast. One significant problem is the lack of cold air around the time the storm is forecast to develop. But if the storm pulls enough moisture from the Atlantic and tracks just right, it could still deliver significant snow. The primary snow window is expected to be Sunday night into Monday morning, potentially complicating the start of the workweek commute.
Bottom line? Stay tuned to local forecasts over the next 48 hours. Small changes in the storm's path could mean the difference between a dusting and a major snowfall. If you're planning travel this weekend, now's the time to check conditions before you go.