Disruptive Ice, Snow Targets the Midwest, Northeast
A disruptive winter storm will bring ice and snow from the Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast today into Thursday.
An area of low pressure took shape across the Midwest today, drawing plenty of warm, moist air northward. Colder air has undercut this warm, moist air, setting the stage for widespread snow, sleet, and freezing rain across the Midwest into the Mid-Atlantic into tonight.
This low pressure system will track eastward across the Ohio Valley tonight and will push off the Mid-Atlantic coast during the day on Thursday. As this system moves across the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic, sleet and freezing rain are expected tonight into Thursday, with snow developing across the Northeast during the day on Thursday.
Across the Midwest, ice accretion up to 0.05 inches is likely this afternoon through tonight. This could lead to icy conditions in cities such as St. Louis, Chicago, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati. Dangerous travel conditions are also expected, including on Interstates 57, 65, 70, 71, 72, 74, 80, and 90.
Across the Mid-Atlantic, ice accretion of 0.05 to 0.15 inches is likely from this evening through Thursday morning. This includes cities such as Pittsburgh, Washington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. Localized ice amounts of 0.25-0.50 inches will be possible across portions of northwestern Virginia into central and western Maryland, eastern West Virginia, and southwestern Pennsylvania.
Snow accumulations Thursday into early Friday of 2 to 5 inches will be common across northern New York into much of central and northern New England. Areas from southern New England into the northern Mid-Atlantic, including cities such as New York, Hartford, Conn., and Albany, N.Y., could see an inch or two of snow in addition to ice accretion up to 0.05 inches.
As a result of the expected wintry weather, Winter Weather Advisories have been posted across northern Missouri and southern Iowa eastward into Pennsylvania, northern Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and southern Vermont. Cities under these advisories include Kansas City, Mo., Des Moines, Iowa, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Hartford, Conn., and Boston.
In addition, Ice Storm Warnings are in place across the Laurel Highlands of southwestern Pennsylvania into the higher elevations of eastern West Virginia, western and central Maryland, and northwestern Virginia. In addition to the snow and ice, the threat of heavy rain has prompted Flood Watches across West Virginia and eastern Kentucky, where rain amounts of 1 to 2 inches are expected.
It’s never too early to have a supply kit packed in case of inclement weather. A simple kit including a weather radio, water, blankets, batteries, and non-perishable food items will go a long way in the event of a power outage.