Bouts of snow to invade northeastern US before coldest air arrives

By Kristina Pydynowski , AccuWeather senior meteorologist

December 5,2016, 10:50:39AM,EST

Even before the coldest air so far this season arrives, parts of the northeastern United States will see snow that may create messy travel conditions.

Enough snow will fall to cover grassy areas and create slippery roads, AccuWeather Meteorologist Renee Duff said. However, a major snowstorm is not expected.

Snow totals will generally range from a coating to a couple of inches from central and northern Pennsylvania to central New England.
In the highest terrain of the Laurel Mountains and southward into the West Virginia mountains, a mix of snow and freezing rain could coat roads and create slick spots.
More travel issues will arise as the snow spreads over more of northern Pennsylvania, New York and New England with colder air in place into Monday afternoon.
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Motorists can anticipate slushy or snow-covered conditions on portions of interstates 81, 86, 87, 91 and 93. The same can be said for I-90 from Rochester to Syracuse to Albany in New York and to Springfield and Worcester in Massachusetts.
Slick spots will also unfold in the higher terrain along Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania and northwestern New Jersey.
“Areas closer the coast will likely stay above freezing, mitigating any snowfall accumulation threat,” Vallee said.
This includes in New York City and downtown Boston. However, nuisance snow will make roads and sidewalks slippery in each city's northern and western suburbs.
By Monday evening, any lingering snow will be confined to New England. The snow will tend to be light and mainly confined to grassy surfaces before winding down by the evening hours.
“While much of the storm will be in the form of rain, some snow and ice will be possible at the onset of the storm across northern Pennsylvania, New York and New England away from the water,” Vallee said.
Another round of snow and wintry mix will affect part of the Northeast on Tuesday.
The second batch of wintry mix will unfold in the Laurel Mountains of Pennsylvania and neighboring higher terrain of Maryland on Tuesday midday before spreading northeastward during the afternoon and evening hours.
Snow and sleet will generally total a coating to a couple of inches, including from State College, Pennsylvania, to Syracuse and Albany, New York, to Burlington, Vermont; Worcester, Massachusetts; and Portland, Maine.

However, a few locations can pick up three or four inches of snow.
Any slippery spots during the day would first develop on bridges and overpasses as temperatures drop down to around freezing at the wintry mix’s onset.
Plain soaking rain will spread along the I-95 corridor from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia to New York City with a little rain and wet snow sneaking northward to Hartford, Connecticut, and Boston.
A drier Wednesday will unfold before the arctic blast arrives late week.
The arrival of the arctic air will be followed by significant lake-effect snow over the interior.