By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist
February 14,2015; 10:57PM,EST
A storm passing through the Northeast this Valentine's Day weekend is riding a tidal wave of frigid air and will evolve into a blizzard over New England before departing on Sunday.
The worst of the storm will target the eastern New England coast Saturday night into Sunday with wind-driven snow. However, high winds, fierce cold and enough snow to make roads slippery will reach the mid-Atlantic.
Several hundred flights have already been canceled on Saturday as of the early afternoon..
Mid-Atlantic on Alert for Potential White-Out Conditions Saturday
Prior to the storm hitting New England, the leading edge of a blast of arctic air will trigger one or more bands of heavy snow that will sweep southeastward from the Great Lakes to the mid-Atlantic coast during Saturday.
According to AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Henry Margusity, "The arctic front will behave like a squall line, but instead of bringing heavy rain, it will bring a brief period of heavy snow with perhaps thunder and lightning."
As this band of snow rolls along like a wall of white, it can create dangerous conditions for those traveling at highway speeds.
"The squall line of snow and the sudden drop of temperature with strong wind gusts can make wet roads slippery in a matter of a couple of minutes and catch motorists off guard," Margusity said.
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There have been multiple accidents in northern Indiana, Ohio, Ontario and western New York state into Saturday afternoon as the squalls moved in. Winds gusting past 50 mph have already contributed to sporadic power outages in the Midwest.
Motorists should pay close attention to the weather and be on the lookout for rapidly changing road conditions throughout the Interstate 80, I-81 and I-95 corridors through Saturday evening.
Major cities in the path of the burst of snow that can cross hundreds of miles include Cleveland, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York City, Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Virginia.
High Winds in Northeast; Blizzard to Rage in New England
As the storm moves off the New England coast it will strengthen rapidly and deliver blizzard conditions from eastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island and eastern Connecticut to southeastern New Hampshire, coastal Maine, southwestern Nova Scotia and southeastern New Brunswick this weekend.
The snowfall accumulation will ramp up from west to east across New York state and New England with only the northernmost areas, western Long Island and the New York City metro area being spared heavy snowfall amounts.
Parts of eastern New England coast to Atlantic Canada will receive a foot (30 centimeters) or more of snow from the storm.
However, winds and plummeting temperatures caused by the strengthening storm will make for dangerous conditions to be outdoors throughout the Northeast.
Winds may gust past 60 mph in New England and past 50 mph in parts of the mid-Atlantic. As a result, power outages, downed tree limbs and minor property damage may not be limited to New England. Some people could be left in the dark and cold in part of the mid-Atlantic.
There is a likelihood of additional flight cancellations from Boston to New York City and perhaps as far south as Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. Wind will be the issue more so than snow for flights in the mid-Atlantic. Be sure to call ahead before making the trip to the airport.
As snow squalls roll across the coastal mid-Atlantic Saturday evening, the storm will start off on a tranquil note in New England. However, snow and winds will quickly increase in intensity Saturday night in New England.
High winds, plunging temperatures and blinding snow will lead to dangerous travel in New England, much of eastern upstate New York and part of Long Island during Saturday night. Motorists will run the risk of getting stuck due to diminishing visibility, snow-covered roads and extensive blowing and drifting.
"Motorists that get stuck in the storm in New England will face lift-threatening conditions with AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures plunging well below zero," Margusity said.
A period of coastal flooding and battering waves can occur Saturday night into Sunday morning from the bay side of Cape Cod to Newbury, Massachusetts.
On Sunday, snow and blizzard conditions will continue in New England for a time as even colder air empties into the region.
Strong wind gusts will continue to make for dangerously low RealFeel® Temperatures and are likely to lead to additional flight delays throughout the Northeast through Sunday.
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