Snowstorm in the offing for eastern US next week as cold air funnels into region

By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist

February 18,2016; 11:26PM,EST

 

 

A storm from the Gulf of Mexico will turn northward along the Atlantic Seaboard next week, potentially resulting in a snowstorm for parts of the East.
As colder air returns to the region next week, highs in the 30s and 40s F will replace 50- and 60-degree temperatures.
Just enough cold air may seep in at a key time to allow snow to fall during all or part of the storm from the Appalachians to portions of the mid-Atlantic and New England coasts.

Travel delays and disruptions to daily activities are likely, regardless of whether the storm yields snow, rain or both.
However, which form of precipitation falls will depend on the exact track and strength of the storm.
"Until the storm actually forms, it will be difficult to resolve the exact storm track," AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Elliot Abrams said.
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"As has been the case with recent storms, there will be a sharp gradient line between one place getting a big snowstorm and a lot of rain," Abrams said.
A storm path just inland of the coast would result in a warmer scenario in the swath from the Interstate 95 corridor to the beaches with mostly rain.
A storm track slightly offshore might allow coastal areas to be cold enough for snow during all or most of the storm.
The air is more likely to be be cold enough to support all or mostly snow from the Appalachians to parts of the Ohio and Tennessee valleys and eastern Great Lakes. In part of this area, the question will be how far west does the moisture travel.
How strong the storm becomes will determine the amount of wind and extent of coastal flooding. Given the timing of the storm, the highest astronomical tides related to the full moon will have occurred a couple of days ahead of the storm.
"With warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico, severe thunderstorms may become a threat in parts of the Southeast states," Abrams said. "The cold air coming in ahead and in the wake of the storm next week will not be nearly as cold as the outbreak that occurred over the Valentine's Day weekend."
Keep checking back with AccuWeather in the coming days as more details will become clear on temperature trends, timing and whether the storm(s) will track along the coast, inland or slightly offshore.