Significant Snow Event Headed Toward the Mid-Atlantic

A winter weather system is inching closer to the mid-Atlantic, expected to deliver the most significant snowfall of the season for many areas of the region. Read on for the latest forecast as the storm bears down.

Large Portion of Mid-Atlantic Prepares for Arrival of Heavy Snow

Much of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and North Carolina is bracing for impact from a winter weather maker. This is the same system that spread plowable snow in a swath of land from the central Plains and into the Ohio Valley earlier in the week. While the mid-Atlantic will see the bulk of the impacts, the system is expected to be big enough to send lighter amounts of snow into the Northeast while ice will form on the southern fringe of the storm.

The cross-country storm got its start over the northern portion of the Pacific Ocean last week, eventually crossing the Rockies before moving into the central Plains states to start the work week. Snowfall accumulations of 6 to 12 inches were generated in parts of southern Kansas and southern Missouri on Monday and Tuesday. The top reading of 11 inches was recorded in Oates, Missouri, a community located about 85 miles to the southwest of St. Louis.

The same general areas of Kentucky and Tennessee that are still recovering from last weekend's deadly flooding saw 1 to 3 inches of snow out of this system. Ice was the issue farther to the south with up to 0.1 of an inch reported across portions of eastern Oklahoma and Arkansas.

The system has been given new life as it heads to the east thanks to a fresh infusion of moisture coming up from the Gulf of Mexico. This is the sixth major winter storm in a period of just two weeks for the central and eastern U.S.

Earlier in the week, forecasters had been warning that the system could take a sharp turn to the north. This would have taken the worst of the impacts up along the coastline and into some of the most populated areas of the Northeast. The latest forecast models indicate that the mid-Atlantic will now see the heaviest bands of snow set up before the system pushes out to sea and ends its journey across the U.S.

Several inches of snow are expected for communities in North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland in the coming hours. The heaviest snow will begin to fall late Wednesday before wrapping up on Thursday morning.

Places like Norfolk, Virginia will see 1 to 3 inches of snow by the end of the day Wednesday. The snow bands will intensify overnight, delivering about 3 to 5 inches of new accumulation after the sun goes down. Temperatures will hold steady in the mid to upper 20s throughout the day and night while winds will come in at speeds of 10 to 15 mph.

Likely Impacts of This Winter Whopper

Snow will fall at rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour at the peak of the activity. Snowfall of this magnitude will make it difficult for road crews to keep the streets clear. Some portions of interstates 64, 85, and 95 may need to close for a time if the conditions become too hazardous. Motorists will want to stay abreast of this situation through Thursday.