Wintry Precipitation Back in the Forecast for Parts of the Northeast
Alexis Thornton
4 weeks agoDespite the exit of the Arctic air mass from the Northeast, it will still feel like winter thanks to the incoming mix of precipitation. Here is a look at the ever-changing weather conditions for this part of the country.
Wintry Precipitation Lurking Again for Parts of the Northeast
An area of high pressure is building over much of the East Coast, promising ideal travel conditions for the weekend for holiday shoppers. However, forecasters are warning that a blast of wintry precipitation is on deck beginning Sunday and lasting through the start of the new work week.
The mass of strong Arctic high pressure will send the temperatures back to levels that are supportive of snow and ice formation for the interior Northeast by the time that the weekend comes to a close. Some of these communities have dodged the wintry precipitation thus far this season, meaning that this may be the first time that residents need to break out their ice scrappers and other types of snow removal equipment.
The arrival of the wintry precipitation could spell trouble for business travelers heading out on Monday for the last full work week before the holidays. Flight delays will be a possibility if airports need to adhere to de-icing protocols.
The dome of high pressure is forecast to move from the Great Lakes and off the coast of New England throughout the weekend. Barometric pressure levels will trend particularly high, hitting levels up to 31.00 inches of mercury or greater beginning late Saturday and into early Sunday. These levels will be most acutely felt in New England and upstate New York.
Although high pressure is typically responsible for calm and dry weather, another storm coming in from the Midwest will clash with this zone to create trouble. The exit of the high pressure zone will produce an area of frigid air circulating across the spine of the Appalachians and into the Piedmont areas to the east on Sunday. The moisture tracking from the Midwest weather maker will meet up with the lingering cold air to trigger the formation of wintry precipitation.
The precise temperatures in place when the moisture arrives will determine how the precipitation falls. Forecasters are predicting that the moisture could fall as either snow, sleet, freezing rain, and straight rain in an area from eastern West Virginia and western Virginia and up into central and eastern New York state.
If the wedge of cold air proves to have some staying power, the snow could add up to several inches. The greatest amount of snow is forecast to fall over the central Appalachians. Conversely, should the cold layer of air thin out, the moisture is most likely to hit as sleet or freezing rain.
The latest forecast models are predicting snowfall of a few inches along with some ice and drizzle for the central Appalachians beginning Sunday afternoon and lasting through Sunday night. Even a small amount of ice could translate to issues for motorists, particularly due to the expected timing of the event under the cover of darkness.