Winter Storm Kori Will Bring Mostly Rain, Wind to the Northeast

Linda Lam
Published: January 20,2017
Winter Storm Kori will be a significant coastal storm, with widespread precipitation and strong northeasterly winds in the Northeast early next week. However, unlike many late-January nor'easters, most locations will not see snow.
(MORE: Winter Storm Kori West Forecast | Winter Storm Central)
The recent weather pattern brought very mild temperatures across the East, and this trend of warmer-than-average temperatures will persist into next week. Without the typical cold conditions normally seen in late January, snow will be in short supply across the East.
An area of low pressure associated with Kori will develop over the southern Plains and tap into the warm temperatures, creating an environment conducive to strong or severe thunderstorms. This system will then move through the Southeast this weekend with abundant moisture.
(MORE: Severe Weather Outbreak Possible This Weekend)
This strong low-pressure system will continue to strengthen as it moves up the Northeast coast early next week. It will also allow warmer air to push northward. The combination of the system's track close to the coast and the lack of cold air in place will limit the amount of wintry precipitation.

Setup for rain and wind along the coast and some wintry precipitation in the interior.

However, high pressure to the north will allow some cold air to get trapped in the lower levels of the atmosphere, setting the stage for a period of sleet or freezing rain in some areas. Some snow is also possible in central and northern New England at the onset of precipitation, as well as in areas of the interior Northeast as this system departs the region.

Sunday Night

• Precipitation is expected to begin in the mid-Atlantic on Sunday and will slowly spread northward into Sunday night.
• Areas from just west of Boston into southern New Hampshire, southern Vermont and New York's Capital District may see a mix of freezing rain, sleet and snow.
• Rain will fall from Boston to Washington D.C. and westward through Pennsylvania and southwestern New York.
• Winds will begin to increase along the mid-Atlantic and southern New England coasts.
• Forecast: Washington D.C | Albany, New York | Worcester, Massachusetts

Sunday Night's Forecast

Monday

• A mix of ice, sleet, rain and snow will continue to spread across western and northern New England and parts of upstate New York.
• Elsewhere, areas from eastern Massachusetts to Virginia and westward through central and southern Pennsylvania will see mostly rain, heavy at times. A few rumbles of thunder are also a possibility.
• Windy conditions are also anticipated, especially toward the coast. Winds gusts over 40 mph are possible.
• By Monday night, areas from southern New England to Maryland will see rain and wind, while a mix of rain, snow, sleet and freezing rain will stretch from the eastern Great Lakes to Maine.
• Forecast: Philadelphia | New York City | Burlington, Vermont

Monday's Forecast

Tuesday

• Rain will end in the mid-Atlantic, while rainy conditions will persist in southern New England and coastal Maine.
• Snow will develop in western and central New York, but most areas in northern New England will change to rain during the day.
• A mix of rain and snow may last into Tuesday night in portions of upstate New York and New England.
• Winds will decrease through the day, but it will remain gusty at times in eastern New England. 
• Forecast: Buffalo, New York | Boston | Caribou, Maine

Tuesday's Forecast

Given the strength and track of Kori, coastal flooding may also be a concern in some areas early next week. There is some good news: rain is needed in much of the Northeast as drought conditions prevail from central Maine into much of the mid-Atlantic and New York.
According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor from Tuesday, almost 65 percent of the Northeast is experiencing abnormally dry conditions or worse. The worst of the drought remains in portions of Connecticut and southwestern Massachusetts.
(MAPS: Precipitation Forecast)
Through Tuesday, areas from Boston to Washington D.C. will generally receive 1 to 3 inches of rainfall. Locally heavier amounts are possible and could lead to some flooding.
Some of the higher elevations in the Northeast will also receive beneficial snowfall, with over 6 inches possible. A shift in the track eastward or slightly colder temperatures could mean higher snow accumulations in interior sections than currently anticipated.
Some ice accumulation is also possible, which could bring slippery conditions, most likely in northern New England.
There is some uncertainty in the forecast so be sure to check back frequently for forecast updates.

This Isn't What You'd Expect in Late January

Snow lovers typically rejoice when a strong low-pressure system tracks off the Northeast coast in late January. However, this year is unusual in that not much snow is expected with Winter Storm Kori.
The lack of snow is due to the upper-level pattern and the track of the surface low-pressure system. The result will be a rain event along the coast and a mix of wintry precipitation at times farther inland.

People begin to venture out to assess the damage after Winter Storm Jonas dropped nearly 30 inches of snow in Baltimore, MD on Sunday, January 24, 2016.
(Shawn Hubbard/weather.com)

This is a much different situation than what happened last year at this time. Winter Storm Jonas buried a large portion of the Northeast urban corridor with more than 2 feet of snow from the Washington D.C. area to New York City from Jan. 22 to Jan. 24, 2016.
(MORE: 5 Most Impressive Things About Winter Storm Jonas)
Snowfall rates of up to 3 inches of snow an hour were observed at times during the peak of Jonas, and New York City set a new record for heaviest snowstorm with 27.5 inches of snow measured.
This impressive storm stranded thousands of travelers and a quarter-million customers lost power during the storm.
Two years ago, Winter Storm Juno impacted portions of the Northeast with heavy snow, strong winds and coastal flooding from Jan. 26 to Jan. 28, 2015.
(MORE: Winter Storm Juno Recap)
New England was particularly hard-hit with blizzard conditions reported in areas of eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. At least one person died as a result of the storm.
Although late January can see significant and impactful snowstorms in the Northeast, this does not appear to be the case this year.

MORE: Winter Storm Jonas