Sunday, January 25, 2015 - Morning Weather Discussion

Severe Nor’easter for Monday night and Tuesday with 1-2 FEET of snow likely (with some 30 inch amounts possible in Northeastern NJ, Extreme Southeastern New York State, and near New York City) from Eastern Maryland, through the Delmarva, Eastern Pennsylvania, ALL of New Jersey, Southeastern New York State, New York City, Long Island, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Southern Vermont, New Hampshire, and all of Maine except far Northern Sections.  In addition winds will gust 30-50 mph across Northern New Jersey and 50-70 mph across Long Island and in Southern Rhode Island and across Southeastern Massachusetts, in fact some peak wind gusts in those locations may reach 80 mph.

The snow will start lightly on Monday morning between 3 am and 5 am as a storm starts to approach the Middle Atlantic Coast from the west.  The snow will accumulate to 1-2 inches by evening.  The snow will then become steadier and heavier in the evening as the storm starts to move northward up the East Coast, intensifying rapidly as it does so.  The highs on Monday should be in the mid 20’s.

Heavy snow will then continue until the afternoon when it will start to taper down a bit but continue through midnight.   Winds will also be a problem with gusts of 30-50 mph likely and gusts of up to 50-70 mph likely on Long Island, Southern Rhode Island, and Southeastern Massachusetts, with peak wind gusts of 80 mph possible in those locations.  Highs on Tuesday will be in the low to mid 20’s. 

The combination of heavy snow and high winds will likely cause snow drifts of 2-4 FEET or more and localized or possibly even widespread power outages.  In addition, roads will be impassable from Tuesday morning through Wednesday morning in many places so power crews won’t be able to get to those locations until Wednesday afternoon or Thursday at the earliest.  As a result, emergency management coordinators should be prepared to be dealing with downed power lines, large numbers of people who need shelter from lack of heat and resources to get them to those locations, and the need to rescue stranded motorists.  Preparations should be made to secure loose items and cut back any trees limbs or trees that can fall.  Also, be sure to have an alternate heat source available if possible. 

Things will then clear out but it will get very cold with lows reaching the single digits on Thursday morning.

Thursday night another storm will approach, bringing a chance of more snow.  Right now it looks as if we will get about 1-3 inches with this storm into Friday morning. 

Saturday should then be nice with a chance of another Nor’easter developing next Sunday and Monday.  Then it will be even colder, with more chances for snow next Wednesday and again the following Friday night and Saturday. 

Please tell all of your friends to check this blog throughout the day as the latest data becomes available. 

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