by WeatherOps, on Jan 21, 2014 9:39:57 AM
A large upper level system over the Great Lakes and the Ohio River Valley will bring heavy snow to portions of the Northeast and south into portions of Virginia. At the surface, an area of low pressure off the coast of Virginia will develop and intensify before moving northward along the East Coast.
Current NWS Watches and Warnings from iMapPro
As the area of low pressure increases, winds and snow intensity will also increase. Up to a foot of snow will be possible in some areas. Significant snowfall is possible for major metropolitan areas such as Washington DC, Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston with the heaviest snow falling from the DC area to Philadelphia to New York City to south of Boston.
Further west, a second frigid weather system is moving down from Canada and will plunge low temperatures into the double-digit negatives all along the border. Whipping winds will drive the wind chill down to 20 to 40 below zero from the Upper Plains states to northern Missouri. A small but intense snowstorm is dumping up to 10 inches of snow in metropolitan Chicago as moisture over Lake Michigan mixes with frigid air.
WDT WRF snowfall accumulations through 7AM EST Wednesday
Blizzard conditions will also be possible this afternoon through Wednesday morning as the low moves southeast of the heaviest snow. Blowing and drifting snow will lead to hazardous travel conditions, especially during the rush hour tonight. Wind chills will also be at or below zero.
WDT WRF model winds for 10pm EST Tuesday
Airlines have canceled more than 1,700 flights so far, mostly in mid-Atlantic states. Up to 30 percent of flights at all major airports from New York City to Washington, D.C, could be affected.
In New York City, the mayor urged residents to use mass transit or to stay indoors if possible so the sanitation crews can work to clear the streets. More than 2,000 workers have been fully mobilized to work around the clock and more than 450 salt spreaders were already out on the roads by midday. As many as 1,700 vehicles can hit the road as conditions warrant.
DM/SM
