East Coast in Store for Wet and Potentially Snowy Weekend

Posted: February 9, 2023 12:05 pm

The same storm system expected to bring rain and high winds to the Southeast this weekend will also produce wintry conditions for areas farther to the north. The largely coastal storm could impact outdoor plans for millions of Americans beginning Friday and lasting until early next week. Here is what you need to know about his developing weather maker.

Snow Possible for Higher Terrains of Appalachians and Beyond

The original forecast had this storm system aiming for the interior Northeast. However, the latest models show that the system will shift farther to the south in the coming days due to the absence of the typical atmospheric roadblock that traps colder air across the Northeast.

Drier air in place through the interior Northeast will translate to the storm system trending southward. Forecasters are warning that the more southerly path does not mean that the East Coast will dodge wintry precipitation this weekend. In fact, areas that do not typically see ice and snow will be in the primary impact zone for these messy conditions.

The areas most likely to see snow out of this system includes the higher terrains of North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. There is also the chance that the snow line falls as low as the piedmont areas in this region. The Delmarva Peninsula may also be in line for some wet snow by Sunday. For this to happen, the system will need to find colder air and bring it down from above.

There is a bit of uncertainty regarding what type of precipitation the Interstate 85 corridor in Virginia and North Carolina will see. While moisture will likely begin to fall as rain, it could transition to a mix of rain and snow or wet snow beginning late Saturday and last through Sunday evening.

Rainy in the Southeast

The rain will set in beginning late Friday across Georgia and the Carolinas. The moisture is then forecast to expand to the north into the southern tiers of Virginia and Maryland by late Saturday.

The biggest impact in this region will be the chance of flash flooding and ponding on highways. Those traveling along interstates 20, 40, 77, 85, and 95 need to be ready for the possibility of a slow ride due to poor visibility and pooling water on the roadways.

Thunderstorms are also in the forecast for the southern fringe of the storm system. This includes across much of the state of Florida on Saturday afternoon and evening. It could be a wet weekend for the Sunshine State.

What About the Rest of the Northeast?

While it looks as if the Northeast will escape the reappearance of winter weather, it will not completely miss the impacts of this storm system. The storm is predicted to gain strength beginning Sunday, triggering strong northeasterly winds to form along the coast of the mid-Atlantic. These winds may create minor flooding and beach erosion along the stretch of coastline from North Carolina up through southern New England.

The expansive storm system is forecast to move offshore by the start of the work week. However, it may also move to the north at the same time, bringing its impacts to the major East Coast cities of Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Boston. These impacts will likely come in the form of rain firing up late Sunday and into Monday.

While no significant snow is expected for the Interstate 95 corridor, an intrusion of cold air from the north could translate to a short period of wet snow for this region to end the weekend and start the work week. Be sure to stay tuned to the developing forecast over the weekend if you live in this impact zone.

Additional Storm on the Horizon

Once the coastal storm finally dissipates, a new system coming in from the nation’s heartland may affect the Northeast by the middle of next week. Once again, a lack of cold air may prevent significant snow for an area of the country that typically sees the most snow of the year in February.

Residents in the Northeast have not seen much in the way of snow this winter season. Major metropolitan areas stretching from Washington, D.C. up through New York City have not even seen even an inch of snow yet, falling well below average levels by this time of the year. Meanwhile, cities that typically do not see much winter precipitation, such as Dallas, have seen more snow than these normally snowy Northeast cities.

As the winter goes on, it is becoming more and more likely that the Interstate 95 corridor may escape the season without any major snow event. Only time will tell if Mother Nature has something more in store for this part of the country in the coming weeks or if spring will indeed arrive early.

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