Two More Systems May Add to Snow, Ice Fatigue in South, Midwest, Northeast

Jon Erdman
Published: February 18,2015



 
We have not one, but two more systems we're watching closely that could bring more snow and ice through the weekend into early next week.
(MORE: Expert Analysis | Winter Storm Central)
We're sorry to be the messengers. We know snow fatigue is reaching epidemic proportions during what is approaching a record snow season in New England.
We know some are recovering from Winter Storm Octavia, a snowy, icy mess spanning more than 1,200 miles from the South to the East.
We've had six winter storms since Jan. 25 in just over three weeks. Snow may now be one of those four-letter words you shouldn't say.
Unfortunately, the relentless cold continues. Any system moving into that cold air has the potential to produce at least nuisance snow and ice.
Here's our current forecast for each of these systems, starting with an Eastern snowmaker.

System #1: Northeast Nuisance

An arctic cold front will continue to spread light snow through the East into Thursday morning. Snow amounts will generally be 3 inches or less as this cold front slices through, including a swath from the Appalachians into much of New York, Pennsylvania, and parts of the Mid-Atlantic States.
It's worth mentioning that while accumulations will be light, this snow could fall in a burst, or snow squall, reducing visibilities suddenly. Multi-vehicle accidents have occurred several times this winter in these sudden snow squalls.
Possible slick commutes, due to this fresh, light snow include:

• Overnight: Pittsburgh | Charleston, West Virginia | Balt. | Wash., D.C.
• Thu. morning: NYC | Philly | Balt. | Wash., D.C.

Thursday, low pressure is expected to wrap-up off the New England coast, south of Nova Scotia.
Before that low intensifies, bands of heavy snow along a surface trough of low pressure should align over parts of Maine and New Hampshire overnight into Thursday. Then, additional heavy snow should wrap into Maine Thursday into early Friday, before tapering off.
The National Weather Service has posted winter storm warnings for all of Maine and parts of northern New Hampshire. As you can see from our snowfall forecast map, this is where the greatest chance of at least 6 inches of snow is. Some locations where the heavy snowbands persist the longest will likely tally over a foot of new snow.
(FORECASTS: Portland | Bangor | Eastport)
We only expect mainly light to locally moderate snow (4 inches or less) over the rest of New England Thursday and Thursday night, including Boston and Hartford.

System #2: Widespread Mess

We mentioned earlier the record-setting February cold air dumping into the East and South later this week.
The jet stream will once again send disturbances and moisture rippling over this cold air.
We're not anticipating an intense low-pressure system to spin up with blizzard conditions and two-foot-plus snow, as we saw in some areas with Winter Storm Neptune.
However, a mess of snow, sleet and freezing rain appears to be a good bet from the Rockies to parts of the East Friday at least into the weekend, in somewhat similar flavor as Winter Storm Octavia.
Winter storm watches have already been posted for parts of Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia in anticipation of this storm system.
In addition to the wintry weather threat, there may be some severe thunderstorms in parts of the south-central states Saturday from this system.
The lower three maps at right show our current forecast Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The exact lines between snow, ice, and just plain rain will likely shift a bit as we near the event and our forecast guidance comes into agreement.
Here is the general outlook:
Friday: 

• Mid-South/Tennessee Valley snow, sleet, freezing rain. Snow in Rockies, Front Range, western Great Lakes.
• Cities to watch: Little Rock | Memphis | Nashville

Saturday: 

• Snow from the Rockies to the southern Great Lakes and into the Northeast
• Sleet/freezing rain possible south of that snow swath.
• Precipitation should change to rain in most of Friday's sleet/ice area.
• Cities to watch: St. Louis | Cleveland | Baltimore

Sunday: 

• Snow, sleet and some freezing rain may persist in the Northeast and Appalachians. Precipitation may change to rain along part of I-95 corridor. Snow continues along Front Range of central/southern Rockies.
• Cities to watch: Denver | Boston | NYC

If that wasn't enough, with the cold air reinforced this weekend, and more upper-level energy lurking over the West, we can't rule out additional rounds of snow, sleet and freezing rain from the southern Plains into the Southeast early next week.
(MORE: 10-Day Foreast Maps)
Check back with us at weather.com and The Weather Channel for the latest on these two systems.

MORE: Winter Storm Octavia Photos