Presently the storm is forming over northeast Alabama. A large area of rain and snow with severe weather in Florida has developed. Sleet and freezing rain is occurring over portions of the Carolinas. Blizzard Warnings extend from the DC area to Long Island. Snowfall accumulations in DC will be the heaviest since 1922 when 28.0 inches fell in three days. Two feet of snow is forecast for DC with up to 3 feet in the mountains. A foot or more is expected in portions of central and southern NJ with 6 to 12" in the NYC metro area through early Sunday morning. Strong winds gusting to 60 mph combined with heavy snow will knock down power lines and trees leading to power outages. There is the potential for the worst flooding along the coast since Sandy with moderate to major flooding expected due to a full moon along portions of the Jersey Shore. Minor to moderate flooding is expected in and around NYC. Beach erosion will also occur and a communities along the shores in NJ are putting up temporary dunes before the storms begins. Snow will develop late tonight and continue all day on Saturday into early Sunday morning. This is the first major snowstorm this season in NYC and NJ. The first flakes began falling in DC in the past hour.
George Wright is a Certified Consulting Meteorologist for Wright Weather Consulting, LLC. Visit our website at WrightWeather.com. Follow George Wright on Twitter @gwweather.
