Fast-Tracking Snow to End March in Northeast

By Brian Lada, Meteorologist

March 31,2015; 8:00PM,EDT

 

 

March will not be going out like a lamb in the Northeast as a low pressure system delivers snow and rain to the region.
This will be far from a major storm, but could cause some disruptions to travel and those with any plans in the outdoors.
The steadiest snow will fall near and north of Interstate-80 to the Pennsylvania/New York border. Pennsylvania cities from Bradford to Williamsport and Scranton are most likely to receive accumulating snow.
Farther south, it is expected to be too warm for snow to fall with Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Philadelphia all having just rain.

In general, many areas will receive between 1 and 3 inches of snow, but some locally higher amounts are possible, especially on the ridges.
In addition to substantially reducing the visibility, snow that falls heavily can overcome the warming effect of the March sun and create slushy and slippery conditions.
These slushy and slippery conditions are most likely in areas that do not receive direct sunlight or on bridges in the higher elevations.
Sudden heavy snow shut down part of I-80 in part of central Pennsylvania during Tuesday afternoon.
With temperatures forecast to fall well below freezing on Tuesday night, black ice could form on roadways and cause slippery travel until after daybreak on Wednesday.
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Marginal temperatures will limit the snowfall accumulation farther to the east.
Because of the timing of the snow, late Tuesday into Tuesday evening around New York City the snow is not likely to accumulate on the streets and highways. A small slushy accumulation could occur on grassy areas in the suburbs. Motorists should exercise caution on bridges and through underpasses.
As the storm continues to move eastward Tuesday night, rain or a rain and snow mix can end as a period of snow centered on Long Island and the southern coastline of New England. A few locations in this zone can pick up a coating to an inch of snow, mainly on grassy surfaces.
Any snow that does accumulate on into Tuesday night should not last for long as mild weather will build in the East by Thursday.
"All this mild air that's in the middle of the country will suddenly race eastward," said AccuWeather.com Chief Meteorologist Eliot Abrams.
This will cause temperatures to climb into the 50s and 60s in the same area where the snow falls on Tuesday, melting all of the snow before the end of the week.

Although the calendar may be turning to April, that does not mean that Tuesday will bring the last snow of the season to the Northeast.
Colder air can be expected to return to the region for the upcoming weekend which will open the door for snowflakes to fly once again.
AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski contributed content to this story.