By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist
January 19,2016; 11:03AM,EST
A major winter storm will hit the eastern United States with the potential for heavy snow to impact more than 50 million people at the end of the week.
Areas from Charleston, West Virginia, and Roanoke, Virginia, to Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City and Boston could receive heavy snow from the storm.
According to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Dombek, "We are just now at the point [of the winter] where the air is cold enough with the ongoing storms to awaken a sleeping giant in terms of a snowstorm."
Unlike most storms so far this winter, this system will have enough cold air to produce snow and disruptions to daily activities in areas of the East that have received little thus far.
The exact track of the storm will hold the key as to which areas in the mid-Atlantic and southern New England are hit with heavy snow, dangerous highway travel and scores of flight delays and cancellations during Friday into Saturday.
The heavy snow with the storm is likely to have a fairly sharp northern edge. At this time, the northern edge of the storm is most likely to extend from southern Ohio to southern New England. A distance of less than 50 miles could bring snowfall ranging from an inch or less to more than a foot.
Storm impacts
If the storm develops to its full potential and takes a track just off the mid-Atlantic and New England coasts, then a blizzard can unfold. The storm could shut down highways and perhaps cause airport closures.
According to AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Elliot Abrams, "This could be a long-duration snowfall that could last more than 24 hours in some locations."
This is also the type of storm that is likely to produce a very heavy rate of snow.
Based on the most likely storm track at this early stage, areas from the Virginia and West Virginia mountains to the major cities from Washington, D.C., to Baltimore and Philadelphia, as well as the suburbs, are included in the swath of heavy snow potential.
Since the storm will strengthen rapidly, reduce its forward speed and tap plenty of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean on its path, snowfall rates of 1-3 inches per hour are possible. There is the potential for the hardest-hit areas to receive 1-2 feet of snow or more from the storm, where rain does not mix in.
According to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson, "Should the storm continue northeastward, rather than turn more to the east at the last minute, New York City, Boston, Providence, Rhode Island, and Hartford, Connecticut, would also be buried in snow."
A wintry mix is likely to occur from northwestern North Carolina to the Delmarva Peninsula, southern New Jersey and Long Island.
Exactly how much snow accumulates in the coastal areas will depend on the amount of rain, if any, that mixes in.
In the swath of the heaviest snow, motorists who venture out during the storm could become stranded.
Thunder and lightning could accompany the heavy snow in some coastal locations.
As the storm strengthens near the coast, winds will increase, and blowing and drifting of snow will occur.
Along the mid-Atlantic and New England coast, a period of rough seas, minor coastal flooding and beach erosion can occur. The approaching full moon will cause high astronomical tides around the days where the storm will be near the coast, leading to heightened coastal concerns.
Storm timing
The wintry mix will ramp up over the southern Appalachians and part of the Ohio Valley during Thursday night.
On Friday, the wintry part of storm will focus on the mid-Atlantic region.
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AccuWeather winter weather center
Part of New England would be most affected by the storm from Friday night into Saturday night.
Little to no snow would likely fall over northwestern Pennsylvania, upstate New York and northern New England, Anderson stated.
Alternative scenarios
A shift in the storm track by 50-100 miles farther north would allow precipitation to become mixed with or change to rain in the I-95 corridor. A more northerly track would push the heaviest snow across the central and northern Appalachians.
Should the storm take a more southerly track, mostly snow would fall from western and northern North Carolina and southern Virginia to southern New Jersey. The I-95 swath might be spared the worst from the storm in this case.
JL Scherer ·
Believe what you see! Too early
Amanda Russell
I
am so excited for central PA to finally get measurable snow, I think
I'm foaming at the mouth. If we go over the foot mark, my head may
explode with happiness.
Kenneth Austin ·
They want us to start buying
Chris Moore ·
Get a snowblower before it hits!!! http://amzn.to/1NtoOGZ
Thomas Hall ·
Too early to tell who will get the most. Hoping it tracks north away from I-95.
Kevin Wright ·
Bring it on! What say you, Brian Lester?
Aneesh Sompalli ·
Martinsburg, WV looks to be in the bullseye of this storm! 2-3 feet? Yes please.
Arthur Yagudayev ·
I think NYC should see 8-14" as of right now.
Nicholas Czekalski
DC area drivers are already running into each other and running off the road in preparation for the snow.
Daniel Meyers
I
don't take stock in any of these predictions made from Gizmos..and
Weather models... Last weekend we were told the same ...and it reached
54*F on Sunday. And we rarley get a West to East storm.
Anthony Siders ·
Daniel Meyers actually that storm was predicted to be rain
Stanley N Jean Zalewski ·
i well do the RAIN DANCE for NEW JERSEY
Harpal Singh Arora ·
NO Snow, We already had so much snow in the past years.
Louis Saccone ·
WHEN it gets off carolinacoast thats when it can track east northeast or northeast up toward bloclk
island then newyork mertro area gets blasted see it before many times
island then newyork mertro area gets blasted see it before many times
Skip Hamilton ·
I always find it so funny when there is a snow storm, people go food shopping like there will never be food again, idiots.......
Michael Burke ·
Works at Retired
In
RI... time to go get all the bread and milk in the store....wouln't you
think people would "stock up" on canned soups, stews, spagetti-o's,
stuff like that....what's the big deal with "bread and milk" ???
Skip Hamilton ·
Michael
Burke LOL, idiots............. especially here in new york city. I mean
really, you should see them, like it's the end of the world, and I'm
talking about 3-5 inches of snow.
Michael P. Dooley ·
Works at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Michael Burke I'm more like the beer and wine guy.
Daniel Meyers
All
this chatter..when so far..the real authorities of weather
predictions..U.S Naval observatory at Fleet Services Norfolk are citing
snow showers and wind gusts to 25 knots. When the Navy issues Sorte
Bravo Conditions..then we'll have something to worry about.
Keith Richardson ·
Anyone
know the name of that weather guy from Facebook and his own site? I
forgot his name but know he hates weather channel and so and so..
James Robert Burns
bread, milk, egg.
Eileen Cher
Has
anyone figured out yet what we are supposed to do with the bread, milk
and eggs? I understand the wine and bourbon, but not the other 3.
Mickey Jennifer Wind ·
smell what the doomsayers are cooking! and by Monday everybody is laughing
Edward Canfield ·
Remember
if you dont prepare and the electric goes off and theres no back up and
no plan , well it could be along wait for help. remember water lines
freez and bust with no heat. FYI
Olin Forsberg ·
It will be too warm for pipes to freeze but check your local area forcast to be sure
Tom Barrett ·
Olin
Forsberg Exposed pipes can freeze very easily, which is exactly why you
need to be prepared in such scenarios as this upcoming one. If the
temperature drops suddenly, it doesn't take much to freeze any pipe that
is left to the elements. Internal piping takes a great deal longer to
feeze, due to the many variables involved. Regardless, one should always
prepare for these types of situations and not be the proverbial ostrich
with its head in the sand.
Kenneth Pratt ·
Tom
Barrett If anyone did have "exposed pipes" they would have frozen by
now, at least in my region. Snow banking up against my foundation walls
has actually proven to be pretty good insulation for the cold nights
that have follwed massive snowfalls.
Ken Bellone ·
It's
just snow. People have become so damned soft in this country. You can
do just fine indoors for a few days with no heat. Jesus, people go
camping in the winter in snow with nothing but a canvas tent and they
don't die. If you're inside a building without heat, you bundle up and
you'll be fine. Only the infirm, the elderly an very young children need
fear this.
In America today, there is no reason to not have a few days food around the house. Most canned food can be eaten wityhout being heated. It may not taste great, but it'll do. The chicken little mentality is just pathetic.
In America today, there is no reason to not have a few days food around the house. Most canned food can be eaten wityhout being heated. It may not taste great, but it'll do. The chicken little mentality is just pathetic.
Shavon Jenkins ·
This
forecast is all hype, to get everyone rushing to the stores to stock up
on winter gear & food! Funny if like last year, all we get is rain
& 45 degrees! That's when all the meteorologists concluded that the
storm made some sort of U-turn! Lol!
RL Puckett ·
I
imagine all the sheeple will be running to the grocery at the last
minute on Thursday for the obligatory stocking up on "milk and bread".
Me? I'll bring in another load of firewood, attach the blade to the
tractor, and relax and enjoy it.
Darrell Roach
Every
year I hear about "the brutal snow storm" or "the sub-zero weather" and
in the summer it's the "miserable heat wave" or "extremely hot weather"
but I can only feel sorry for homeless people that can't find refuge
from it.and all the poor dogs and cats that have no home.
Vickie Spokane ·
I
am glad the homeless (human and animal) are thought of. BUT we should
do more than just feel sorry for them. Blankets and sleeping bags... And
especially SOCKS! Warm ones!
Felix Funemone
Homelessness is only an issue during Republican Administrations.
Brian Osburn
It
is always mild and delightful here in Ecuador. Low - 52 Hi - 72
...day after delightful day. There is always a chance of rain. OMG...so
glad I evacuated the USA.
Mark Matt ·
Works at Rocket Scientist
If we're going to have a big storm... Friday night seems like a great time for it
Jimmy Hendricks ·
I
am ready for a repeat of the great 96 record breaking storm that we
had. This storm has tons of potential with overrunning snow and then
rapidly intensifying of the coast throwing huge bands inland and
stalling out. If the ingredients come together should be a truely
Historical storm.
Jon Severt ·
All
I know is I live NE of Columbus Ohio and it's brutal cold - right now
it's +5F and the 'breeze' makes it feel like -10F or worse.
It's been a 'mild' winter recently, but this just flat sucks.
It's been a 'mild' winter recently, but this just flat sucks.
Chris Westervelt ·
Anything
that will hinder/slow-down the crooks and scheisters in DC and NYC
steeling us blind and effing up our lives I am all for.
Max Maxfield ·
every one goto weatherbell.com n check out joe bastradi's forecast for this storm
Zack Hodgson ·
I'm
fine with the cold weather, just please keep the wintry precip out of
GA. GA has seen enough precip of any kind since early November for a
long time. Dry and cold like today would be perfect.
Loraine Colley Weaver ·
And, yes we would love to see the jet stream take the southerly route engulfing D.C. & NY to get more of that white stuff.
Paul Sepe ·
"sufficient enough"
That's superflously redundant. Please, hire an editor.
That's superflously redundant. Please, hire an editor.
Kenneth Carter ·
Works at Unity Photography
Their editor used to work in the department of redundancy department.
Roger Helmich ·
Works at Farmtown
last time I checked, Jan 20'ish is when DC gets its first major snow most years.
Samantha Gray ·
Every 4 years it gets a major Snow Job on Jan. 20th.
Kenneth Pratt ·
Jan 20th is also when our avg temp begins to climb back upwards, I guess there is correlation there.
Kimberly Jefferson
Is
there a reason you all can't mention WV in your forecasts? You mention
every state around but not WV and it appears to be in the center of the
storm!
Michael Croune ·
WV is too close to not receiving any.
Aaron Ginther ·
West
Virginia could receive A LOT of snow. Continue to monitor the
forecasts. I live in the western piedmont of Virginia and I'm watching
this track very closely.
Michael Canfield ·
Used to that level of media coverage here in "Western Virginia"
Vickie Spokane ·
Sue Arenschield It is a band of hills (East coast calls mountains) that run from Maine down to Alabama?Georgia.
Randall Voight
I've
always noticed that as well. We get stereotyped so badly in this state
but time and time again it's the people outside of the state that prove
themselves ignorant of the fact West Virginia is in fact, a state.
Peter Teixeira ·
I
blame Trump for not building a wall in Canada to stop the cold blast of
air from crossing our northern boarder HE STILL GETS MY VOTE .
Mark Stockman ·
Be
careful what you ask for. If a scientist comes up with a way it could
work, and an engineer figures out how to build it, and a business anayst
(like myself) figures out how to pay for it, he'll do it!
David Brower ·
Sokratis Papageorgiou AS OPPOSED TO HILLARY's SUPPORTERS
WHO HAVE 40 YEARS OF CLUES BUT STILL CAN'T DRAW A CONCLUTION WITH A NEW SHARPIE .
WHO HAVE 40 YEARS OF CLUES BUT STILL CAN'T DRAW A CONCLUTION WITH A NEW SHARPIE .
Sokratis Papageorgiou
David
Brower Not sure what you mean. At least Hillary acts presidential.
But I get it......if you want a rogue in the WH who has no etiquette, it
only reflects yourself.
James Pelletier ·
Sokratis
Papageorgiou you said it "acts presidential" you know like an actress
or for the more confused like yourself, one who pretends to be that
which she is not.
Kenneth Pratt ·
James
Pelletier When our closest ally, the UK, has to have a debate in
parliament on the question of banning a candidate from entering their
country based on his incindiary and hateful rhetoric, I'd start to
question who I was supporting. Even the conservative prime minister
basically said he'd want "nuffin' to do wif 'at wanker".
Vickie Spokane ·
I would rather Sanders... He is for the common people... NOT THE RICH!
Barry Leeper ·
Well, that was very informative!
The weather service can't predict the track of a snow storm, yet can predict what the weather will be like thirty years down the road!! BULLDINKY!!!
To many varibles to predict the path of the snow. I think the National Weather Service will be able to predict the amount of snow fall we will get after the storm has come and gone.
All I know is I am tuning up my snow thrower on Tuesday afternoon just in case
we get more than a dusting of snow.
I was a Boy Scout so I am always going to "Be Prepared" especially now a days with all this modern technology in the hand...See More
The weather service can't predict the track of a snow storm, yet can predict what the weather will be like thirty years down the road!! BULLDINKY!!!
To many varibles to predict the path of the snow. I think the National Weather Service will be able to predict the amount of snow fall we will get after the storm has come and gone.
All I know is I am tuning up my snow thrower on Tuesday afternoon just in case
we get more than a dusting of snow.
I was a Boy Scout so I am always going to "Be Prepared" especially now a days with all this modern technology in the hand...See More
Mark Stockman ·
Reminds
me of a guy I know from Upstate NY who was a long-haul truck driver.
He was down in Texas, they had a half an inch of wet snow- and they
closed all the roads! He was trying to argue with the highway patrol-
showing them his license, the snow tires on the truck, etc. "Sorry,
can't let ya on the roads. Too dangerous!"
Jeff Waterstrat ·
Here it comes you hot heads . . We'll have a blast . An Arctic one . . . Im too much
Adithya Ramachandran ·
Why do we always end up with 50 F and rain while the north gets snow frown emoticon.
Adithya Ramachandran ·
@Michael Croune : I'm moving to the mitten state for work this june, and will get plenty of snow next winter wink emoticon.
Hannah Forshue ·
Works at Self-Employed
In other words; It's WINTER, it could snow!!!
Matthew W Gail ·
Please bury DC and NYC under 50 feet of snow.
Shavon Jenkins ·
Rob Dinkle if DC, MD, & VA sees flurries they would shut schools!
Jim Ridgway
Shavon
Jenkins We have had schools shut down simply on a 'forcast' of snow
being possible. None happned, not a flake and schools were closed.
Nicole Harvey ·
for
the love of god.. will this storm shift and move away from central west
virginia.. i can't take much more of this white stuff... i am ready for
spring weather!!!
Mark Stockman ·
My
Lady Wife and I are planning on leaving our home state of New York (not
that we want to) and moving down to your neck of the woods. But if you
folks are getting New York winters down there now, we might have to
think further south. wink emoticon
Natasha Catherine
Mark
Stockman I went to college at WVU (originally from NJ with family from
NY) and it's just about as bad there due to all the mountains.
Spencer M. Walker ·
Works at Tompkins Financial Corporation
Praying to FINALLY get some heavy snow in southeast PA.
Anthony Siders ·
is it possible for a further north track for heavy snow in columbus ohio?
Doug DeNunzio ·
the right kind of snow depends on what we need for the future
Ross Phipps ·
You can't roller skate in a buffalo field
Jeff Manning ·
Nor can you take a shower in a parakeet cage...
Tom Mauceri ·
Works at TMauceri, LLC
But you can be happy if you've a mind to
Barry Leeper ·
Jeff Manning You can tune a piano but you can't tuna fish!
David Rash ·
Barry Leeper Name the band that used that for an album title ?
Gwen Balogh
Barry Leeper You can lead a horse to water but a pencil must be lead.
Page Turner
If the government weather service is reporting it you can be sure it won't happen.
Mary Mann ·
Another
rough March for Life in DC on Friday. . .they will go and "offer it up"
to God for the sake of saving the babies. May God bless them.
Lynn Lewis ·
Even
if the weather were nice and half a million pro-life folks showed up,
most of the media would still say, "About 30,000 anti-choice extremists
staged a protest against women...." How do I know this? Because that's
exactly what happened in April 1990: http://groups.csail.mit.edu/.../rauch/nvp/media/shaw3.html
Douglas Helkowski
Bring it on!!!!! Signed...a school teacher in Fauquier Co. Va
Andrew Patterson ·
This
will be the first major snowstorm of the winter which is terrible in
most cases. Too bad winter won't end for another two months. Bummer.
Spencer M. Walker ·
Works at Tompkins Financial Corporation
Not a bummer! Spring sucks.
Gwen Balogh
Spencer
M. Walker Spring is glorious but it's a long way off. Let's stop
complaining and make the most of winter, which can be glorious too.
May stay in Jamaica another week. Suppose to head home Saturday. Screw the snow.
it's "supposed to". sorry couldn't help it. just a pet peeve. like "irregardless" . a common mistake.
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