A winter storm is expected to sweep across parts of the Northeast on Friday, with the mid-Atlantic facing the heaviest impacts and some locations forecast to see as much as 10 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
Forecasters say most areas in the storm’s path should prepare for roughly 4 to 8 inches of accumulation, though pockets could reach 10 inches. Other surrounding areas may see lighter totals closer to 2 to 5 inches, with a few isolated spots approaching 8 inches.
“New York is no stranger to snow and cold weather, and given the Christmas holidays, it’s important to be extra prepared before getting on the road,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul said.
“As always, I urge New Yorkers to monitor their local forecast and text their county or borough name to our weather and emergency alerts system. Stay vigilant, drive slowly if you need to travel, and have a safe holiday weekend,” she added.
Timing and conditions
The winter storm watch is set to begin at 4 p.m. Friday ET and continue through 1 p.m. Saturday, the NWS said. Snow is expected to start off dry and powdery during the day, then turn wetter overnight, with a wintry mix of snow and sleet possible into Saturday morning.
Where the storm could hit hardest
The storm watch covers much of Pennsylvania, northern New Jersey, and the New York City metro area. Parts of southern New York could also see winter storm conditions.
Local outlet PIX11 News highlighted the following areas in New York as most likely to feel the effects:
- The Bronx
- Brooklyn
- Manhattan
- Queens
- Staten Island
- Long Island
- Westchester
- Rockland
And the following areas in New Jersey:
- Bergen County
- Essex County
- Monmouth County
- Passaic County
- Union County
- Hudson County
- Middlesex County
- Morris County
- Somerset County
Quick warm-up, then another system
Temperatures are expected to turn milder on Saturday—potentially back to around 40 degrees—which could limit how long snow stays on roads and sidewalks.
Another system is forecast to arrive overnight Sunday into Monday, but meteorologists say it will more likely bring rain, which could wash away much of the snow that fell over the weekend.
Midwest: Mild holiday, sharp cooldown
The Midwest is also under notable winter weather concerns. While Christmas Day is bringing relatively mild conditions, a cold front is expected to move in and lower temperatures by Sunday afternoon, according to NWS Chicago.
Forecasters say temperatures could drop quickly overnight, with Monday morning lows falling into the 20s. Farther west in Minnesota, freezing drizzle is expected over the weekend, ahead of a similar temperature plunge late Sunday into Monday.
