Wind-Driven Rain, Snow Possible For Northeast Wednesday

By Brian Edwards, Meteorologist

November 3, 2012; 3:55PM,EDT

AccuWeather.com Meteorologists continue to monitor the potential for a wintry mess and a wind-driven rain for residents of the mid-Atlantic and New England Tuesday night into Wednesday.

This is the same storm that could cause major coastal flooding and hamper clean-up efforts along the New Jersey coast.

A storm which will ride up the Eastern Seaboard Tuesday night into Wednesday, will strengthen in the process. There are two scenarios for the eventual track of this storm. The first takes the system northward along the coast and right into southern New England on Wednesday. There is also the potential that stronger upper level winds kick the storm eastward and out to sea, bringing less impacts to the East Coast.
The first scenario, with the storm coming right up the coast, appears the most likely scenario at the present time. This would spread rain and snow into interior parts of New England and the mid-Atlantic with strong winds, especially at the coast.

As Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski pointed out, "The storm track will ultimately determine how much of the East Coast receives rain, which should not lead to widespread flooding regardless of where it falls but may cause problems in low-lying and poor drainage areas. At the very least, any rain will likely be an unwelcome sight to those wishing for a stretch of sunny weather to continue cleanup operations.

The heaviest rain appears aimed for southern New England at the present time, the same area that got spared from the heaviest rains associated with Sandy.
Winds will gust to between 40 and 60 mph along the coast beginning Tuesday night with wind gusts approaching 40 mph for inland locations. These strong winds will continue right into the day on Wednesday.
Pydynowski also stated that "The strength of the winds alone along the coast could reverse the work done by utility crews and cause some more damage--again, not to the extent of Hurricane Sandy. The wind could blow around debris and structural items, such as siding, that were loosed by Sandy. Trees weakened during the hurricane may also succumb to the winds."
Residents still cleaning up debris from Hurricane Sandy are urged to take precautions against this next round of strong winds.
What About the Snow Potential?
There will be a fine western edge to the precipitation shield, likely somewhere over Pennsylvania, Maryland or West Virginia. It is that western edge that will determine where and how much snow falls.
The western and also the northern edge of the precipitation shield will tap into some colder air in place over interior New England and interior parts of the mid-Atlantic.

The potential exists for several inches of heavy, wet snow, especially across the ridge tops of central Pennsylvania into the Pocono Mountains and Catskills of New York. That snow threat could extend into the Berkshires of Massachusetts into central and northern New England on Wednesday depending on the extent of the precipitation.
With some uncertainty, it's a little early to be talking snow amounts, but certainly depending on how things line up, there can be enough to cause additional power outages and tree damage in the interior.
Residents along the East Coast should continue to check back with AccuWeather.com as we continue to monitor the upcoming storm and refine its details.