Blizzard Warning From NOAA
Crippling and potentially historic blizzard to impact the area from late today into Tuesday.
Blizzard Warning remains in effect from 1 pm this afternoon to midnight EST Tuesday night.
- Locations: New York City and surrounding immediate suburbs. Long Island, and most of southern Connecticut.
- Hazard types: Heavy snow and blowing snow, with blizzard conditions.
- Accumulations: snow accumulation of 18 to 24 inches, with locally higher amounts possible. Snowfall rates of 2 to 4 inches per hour expected late tonight into Tuesday morning.
- Winds: north 20 to 30 mph with gusts 45 to 55 mph, strongest across eastern Long Island.
- Visibilities: one quarter mile or less at times.
- Temperatures: in the lower 20s.
- Timing: light snow will begin this morning, with accumulations of 1 to 3 inches possible by sunset. Snow will pick up in intensity Monday evening, with the heaviest snow and strongest winds from about midnight into Tuesday afternoon.
- Impacts: Life-threatening conditions and extremely dangerous travel due to heavy snowfall and strong winds, with Whiteout conditions. Many roads may become impassable. Strong winds may down power lines and tree limbs.
A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds and poor visibilities will lead to Whiteout conditions, making travel extremely dangerous. Do not travel. If you must travel. Have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle.
All unnecessary travel is discouraged beginning Monday afternoon, to allow people already on the road to safely reach their destinations before the heavy snow begins, and to allow snow removal equipment to begin to clear roads.
Arrival of the Snow
The snow has already begun to fly in New York as the storm makes its way northward. The bulk of the storm should hit Philadelphia and New York City tonight and into tomorrow.
Once the system reaches the waters off the Northeast and turns northward, it will rapidly intensify Monday night with blizzard conditions developing from the central New Jersey coast to southern New England.
The blizzard will then continue to expand northward through Tuesday with conditions rapidly deteriorating along its path.
Snowfall Totals
Experts are saying that this could turn out to be among the greatest snowstorms to ever impact some areas.
Between one and two feet of snow is forecast to fall from New York City to Bangor, Maine. Parts of Connecticut and Massachusetts will likely see the greatest snowfall totals with as much as 3 feet of snow.
Strong winds during the storm will cause blizzard conditions and cause drifts measuring as high as 10 feet.
Weather maps from accuweather.com