As much as 3 to 4 inches of snow has fallen in parts of southern New Jersey as of noon today. Here is the lastest forecast discussion from NWS HPC:
SHORT RANGE FORECAST DISCUSSIONNWS HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL PREDICTION CENTER CAMP SPRINGS MD347 AM EST SAT DEC 19 2009 VALID 12Z SAT DEC 19 2009 - 00Z MON DEC 21 2009 THE LARGE STORM OVER THE EAST CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN THIS MORNINGWITH THE SURFACE LOW LOCATED JUST OFF THE NORTH CAROLINA COAST.THE EXPECTED TRACK OF THE SURFACE LOW TAKES IT UP NORTHEASTWARDDURING THE DAY TODAY AND THROUGH THE REST OF THE WEEKEND... ALLWHILE CONTINUING TO DEEPEN. STRONG EASTERLY FLOW OFF THE ATLANTICIS AND WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE PLENTY OF MOISTURE FOR THIS STORMSYSTEM TO TAP. THE HEAVIEST SNOW IS EXPECTED TO TRACK FROM CENTRAL VIRGINIA...NORTHEASTWARD THROUGH D.C.... PHILADELPHIA AND NEW YORK CITY WITHSTORM TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS OF ONE TO TWO FEET POSSIBLE ACROSS THESEREGIONS. ISOLATED HIGHER TOTALS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN MESOSCALEBANDS THAT CAN SET UP WITHIN THESE SAME REGIONS. LIGHTER SNOW WILLALSO IMPACT THE OHIO VALLEY INTO THE UPPER GREAT LAKES TODAY ANDTONIGHT AS THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH RESPONSIBLE FOR THE STORM MOVESTOWARD THE EAST. BLIZZARD WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT FOR LOCATIONSJUST SOUTH OF D.C. AND THROUGHOUT LONG ISLAND AS STRONG WINDSAPPEAR LIKELY TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE VISIBILITIES FOR AN EXTENDEDPERIOD OF TIME LATER TODAY. BLIZZARD WATCHES ARE ALSO POSTED FORSOUTHEASTERN NEW ENGLAND FOR ANTICIPATION OF THE SAME INTO SUNDAYMORNING. ONCE THE STORM MOVES AWAY FROM THE EAST COAST... COLD AIRWILL DOMINATE ALONG THE EASTERN SEABOARD... ESPECIALLY WHERE FRESHSNOW EXISTS.
George Wright is a Certified Consulting Meteorologist and President of Wright Weather Consulting, Inc. Our website is WrightWeather.com.
