Brief warmup to aid blizzard recovery across northeastern US

By Kristina Pydynowski, Senior Meteorologist

January 25,2016; 11:05PM,EST

 

 

Calm weather and then a brief rebound in temperatures will bring some relief to those digging out after the Blizzard of 2016 early this week.
The weather in the mid-Atlantic and southern New England will provide needed calm conditions through at least Thursday as the cleanup from the record-breaking blizzard continues.
Those clearing roads, driveways and roofs will not have to deal with gusty winds further blowing and drifting snow around.
According to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski, "The weather this week will allow people to gradually dig out and clean up, but there will be some weather-related issues to consider."

Residents and crews still completing such tasks are urged to use caution. It is not out of the question for weak roofs that are flat or where snow piled up unevenly to collapse in areas hardest hit by the blizzard.
"Noticeably milder air will make a brief appearance early this week," AccuWeather Meteorologist Renee Duff said. "Locations across the Midwest and Northeast have experienced a week-long stretch of temperatures averaging 5 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit below normal."
A brief mild trend is in store through Tuesday with highs in many communities climbing well into the 30s and some places climbing into the 40s.
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"It will feel much warmer considering how cold it has been recently," Duff said.
The warmest places will be where there is little or no snow on the ground.
Most of the deep snowpack area, however, may not see temperatures rise quite as much as the rest of the Northeast. Many places with deep snow may struggle to reach the upper 30s and lower 40s. Snow acts as an insulator and keeps the ground much colder.
However, even temperatures in the upper 30s may be an improvement for some over the cold from the weekend.
In addition, as mild air moves into the region, fog could form at night over the snow-covered areas.
Sunshine and/or milder air will allow some of the snow from the blizzard to melt.
However, the melting snow could cause problems for travelers. As temperatures fall below freezing at night, runoff from the melted snow will freeze on untreated roads and sidewalks, potentially causing slick travel.

"The best time to clean up the snow will be during the midday and afternoon hours, as this is when the snow and ice will be softest and easiest to scrape away," Sosnowski said. "The slush and standing water will freeze up during most nights this week, so be sure to retreat surfaces on a regular basis."
Rapid melting of the deep snowpack is not expected, erasing fears of significant flooding. Temperatures will rebound, but not to the levels and with a surge of high dew points that will totally eliminate the snow.
While not being totally erased, the deep snowpack will be reduced.
"The deep snow will erode back at the edges," AccuWeather Meteorologist Jim Andrews said. "You will get a little more clearance for traffic along the edges of roads and driveways. Any lingering snow not cleared off parking lots will melt."
"Those hoping for the deep piles to go away, that will not happen anytime soon," Andrews said.
The trend of higher temperatures will end with the arrival of a cold front moving eastward from the nation's midsection.
As the front pushes into the Northeast, rain and drizzle produced by the system may freeze on some surfaces, especially but not limited to the central Appalachians early Tuesday morning.

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It is not out of the question for the rain along the front to linger long enough for the cold air to catch up and lead to spotty light snow and flurries late Tuesday night into Wednesday along the I-95 corridor.
Otherwise, snow showers at midweek will be confined to places downwind of the Great Lakes and the interior of northern New England.
Temperatures will return back to near or slightly below normal later this week in the front's wake, and the cycle of slight melting of the snow and freezing of wet spots at night will continue.
A storm tracking northward over the Atlantic Ocean will be watched for the chance of substantial snow from the mid-Atlantic to New England on Friday.
Content contributed by AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Rathbun.