Winter storm warnings have been issued for portions of 10 states as a front is expected to bring heavy, wet snow and strong winds to New England and the Great Lakes region. This wintry weather is forecasted to persist until Monday. In addition to this, the Pacific Northwest is also bracing for two more storms that will bring mountain snowfall. It is essential for residents in these areas to stay informed about the latest weather updates and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued alerts for several states, including California, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia. The alerts are in place to warn residents about hazardous travel conditions and strong winds that could lead to fallen tree branches and power outages.
Last weekend, a massive winter storm originating from the Pacific swept across the Sierra Nevada range in California, leaving an astonishing 12 feet of snow in its wake. This powerful storm also delivered heavy snowfall and blizzard-like conditions to higher-elevation areas of neighboring states.
Another winter storm hit the Intermountain West after making landfall earlier in the same week. This storm brought heavy snowfall to areas such as Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado.
The western states have already experienced multiple episodes of heavy snow this winter. They have been hit by a series of atmospheric rivers, which resulted in a rare blizzard warning for Seattle in early January.
According to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service (NWS), a winter storm that brought heavy rain to the mid-Atlantic on Saturday night is expected to continue moving northeast on Sunday. As the front expands, colder air will wrap around it, leading to snowfall in New England.
Chilly air from the northwest will create lake-effect snow, a weather phenomenon where cold air from Canada picks up moisture from the Great Lakes and produces precipitation. This will affect areas downwind of the Great Lakes and into the Appalachians. The region has already experienced multiple occurrences of lake-effect snow this winter.
According to the weather agency, the snow showers are expected to continue until Monday but will gradually decrease as the powerful storm moves farther away.
In eastern West Virginia and the Maryland panhandle, residents should brace themselves for up to 8 inches of snow and winds gusting as high as 55 miles an hour. Snow squalls may occur, leading to heavy bursts in some areas. Additionally, blowing snow is expected to reduce visibility significantly.
Northeast Ohio and northwestern Pennsylvania will experience heavy snowfall and strong winds in the coming days. Areas near Lake Erie can expect up to 8 inches of snow accompanied by winds of 40 miles an hour. Meanwhile, northwestern Pennsylvania will see around 7 inches of snow along with gusts of up to 45 miles an hour. Stay prepared for these challenging weather conditions.
Southwest regions of New York, which are adjacent to Lake Erie, can expect a significant amount of snowfall, with up to 9 inches predicted. Meanwhile, areas bordering Lake Ontario are bracing for even more snow, with up to a foot expected. In addition to the heavy snowfall, strong winds of around 45 miles per hour are also anticipated. Moving further north in the state, some counties could see as much as 14 inches of snow.
Vermont is bracing for 14 inches of snow and gusts of up to 40 miles an hour, along with a combination of sleet and freezing rain. Similarly, New Hampshire and Maine can expect up to 10 inches of snow and winds reaching 45 miles an hour.
The Northwest is preparing for the arrival of the latest fronts, which are expected to bring heavy snowfall and strong winds to the Cascades of Washington. Up to 30 inches of snow and winds of 40 miles per hour are anticipated in the region. Meanwhile, north central California is also bracing for significant snowfall, with up to a foot of snow and winds of 50 miles per hour expected.
