NYC Much Colder Air Becoming Available
Good morning everyone. Well, we couldn’t hold onto 50’s and 60’s forever, so it’s time to get back to the reality of winter in NYC and embrace the changes. Those changes include a much colder pattern, plus the chance of some snow on Saturday before changing to rain.
SATELLITE
We’re socked in with clouds in the area today as system #1 of 3 moves through. Most of the energy will go south of the area, but expect the slight chance of a light shower here or there. Highs today will be in the mid 40’s.
REGIONAL RADAR
Tomorrow is the best day of the week by far, then it all goes downhill. Sunny skies will dominate, as will light winds and highs in the upper 40’s to low 50’s.
Clouds increase overnight tomorrow, and that’ll be system #2. This one will be the keeper of the much colder air. We’ll have the chance of scattered showers late overnight and into Thursday morning, then partial clearing some time late morning/early afternoon Thursday. Mid 40’s will be it for Thursday, and those will drop and cold air rushes in and breezy conditions develop.
We’ll dip into the low to mid 20’s Thursday night, then hardly recover Friday.
LOCAL RADAR NEW YORK CITY
Expect a textbook cold winter day here in the NYC Metro area on Friday, with highs temps in the mid to upper 20’s as highs, maybe 30 if the wind subsides. It probably won’t though, so you can expect wind chills in the teens as well.
Friday night will remain clear and breezy, with lows in the upper teens to near 20 overnight. Mid teens could be experienced out on Long Island, and low teens possible N&W of NYC. This cold air locked in will help set up Saturday’s scenario, but with a late arrival of precip, the forecast becomes more complicated.
LOCAL RADAR PHILADELPHIA
Everything in terms of precip arrival is trending to slow down. Instead of snow falling and easily sticking late Friday night, precip will probably arrive some time between late morning and mid afternoon Saturday. While we still expect this to start as snow, questions as to whether we can get it to stick in the streets begin to emerge.
It’ll have to fall fast enough and hard enough to cover the streets and stick, but most likely that’ll take some time and we could see the majority of accumulations on colder surfaces (grass, trees, cars, wood decks). We are not there yet in terms of honing in snowfall amounts, but I’m still sticking with a 1-3/2-5″ scenario for the NYC area, and higher amounts NW of NYC.
Regardless of what happens, this all turns to a cold rain and minimizes whatever is left on the ground. One problem we may have out of all of this, is the very cold air behind the system, which could freeze and wet or white surfaces left. This could create an icy situation Sunday morning with some departing snow showers/flurries as well.
25-30 degree temps return for Monday as we start this much colder pattern. In terms of major snowfall, I continue to see no major systems. However, systems are digging much deeper south and as stated time and time again the past couple of weeks, I’m watching the Gulf for any surprises emerging.
Remember, a pattern change doesn’t automatically equate to more snow, but we’re in a better position now will cold air available and a slightly different system track. Too much cold air, and we could wind up just very cold and dry, with everything suppressed well to our south.
MANY THANKS TO TROPICAL TIDBITS FOR THE USE OF MAPS
Please note that with regards to any tropical storms or hurricanes, should a storm be threatening, please consult your local National Weather Service office or your local government officials about what action you should be taking to protect life and property.