Cold, Snow in Aftermath of Blizzard of 2015 to Make Cleanup More Difficult

By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist

January 26,2015; 11:08PM,EST

 

 

Lingering midwinter cold and additional rounds of snow will add to difficulties for cleanup and those without power after the Blizzard of 2015.
Large drifts and stranded vehicles will remain in the path of many roads following the storm Tuesday night into Wednesday.
Motorists are advised to heed all travel bans as they are issued until the all-clear has been given.
Gusty winds and low AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures will make for blowing and drifting snow and dangerous conditions to be outdoors unless properly dressed into Wednesday morning.

Cold to Persist
According to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson, "In the wake of the blizzard, temperatures will average below normal most days for the remainder of January."
In areas of the Interstate-95 corridor hit by the blizzard, highs most days will be in the 20s to lower 30s with lows most nights falling into the teens through Saturday.
While the cold will not be extreme into the first part of this weekend, it will be cold enough to raise concerns for those without heat or limited heat in the wake of the storm.
People are encouraged to seek out a neighbor or shelter where heat is available to avoid the risk of hypothermia and frostbite.
"During the first week of February, a blast of arctic air is forecast to slice into the Northeast," Anderson said.
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High temperatures in the I-95 Northeast during the first few days of February will be about 10 degrees lower when compared to most of this week. This means highs will be in the teens to lower 20s with nighttime lows in the single digits along the I-95 corridor.
When, How to Clean Up?
There will be a window of opportunity for storm cleanup Wednesday into Thursday.
Sunshine will return from west to east on Thursday.
Winds are forecast to diminish on Wednesday and will be relatively light Wednesday night into Thursday.
People who are removing the snow by hand are urged to do so in stages and not all at once to reduce the risk of injury, heart attack or stroke.

According to AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Elliot Abrams, "Based on the water content of the snow and the amount of snow that falls, we expect a person shoveling a 10 by 10 patch of sidewalk or driveway to lift approximately 630 pounds in New York City."
"With more snow forecast for Boston and Long Island, a person shoveling snow in the same-sized area would lift between 900 and 1,300 pounds."
If you cannot remove large snowdrifts from your roof safely, seek professional help.
For those who are able, remember to clear a path to fire hydrants, in case of emergency. Avoid shoveling snow back into street or piling snow high near the curb at intersections.
More Snowstorms Coming
As if the blizzard and the cold that follows were not enough, additional storms are on the horizon.
Plow crews and property owners from near New York City to Boston will want to make room for more snow.
While the upcoming storms over the next week or so are likely to be far less severe in nature, they will bring more accumulating snow to areas that may have difficulty removing snowfall from the blizzard. There are approximately 8,000 miles of streets in the five boroughs of New York City alone, according to the New York Times.
One storm, an Alberta Clipper, is forecast to swing through the mid-Atlantic and New England Thursday night into Friday.

Generally, light snow is likely anticipated with the clipper storm late this week in the coastal mid-Atlantic. However, some strengthening is possible as the storm nears the coast. Depending upon how much the storm strengthens, several inches of additional snow could fall along some of the I-95 cities of New England. If the storm shifts its track farther to the south, then more snow will fall on the I-95 corridor of the mid-Atlantic.

Looking farther ahead, another storm swinging up from the Southwest states will be monitored for possible impact in the mid-Atlantic and New England early next week.