A nor'easter could drop several inches of snow on New York City, New England (2024)

A significant winter storm from the Mid-South will transition into a strong nor'easter for the Mid-Atlantic and New England on Monday. National Weather Service hide caption

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National Weather Service

A significant winter storm from the Mid-South will transition into a strong nor'easter for the Mid-Atlantic and New England on Monday.

National Weather Service

Millions brace for a brief but intense nor'easter that is expected to pummel the Mid-Atlantic and New England with high winds, coastal flooding and up to a foot of snow in some areas starting Monday evening.

The blustery weather has already prompted hundreds of Tuesday flight cancellations at airports in Boston, New York and New Jersey, according to airline tracker FlightAware.com.

The storm is part of the same system that doused the Gulf Coast and parts of the South with rain and heavy wet snow over the weekend and on Monday. It has been trekking toward the northeast for days and is set to move quickly into the Atlantic.

Officials in multiple states are preparing for what could be the heaviest snowfall in several years. Parts of New York City could see at least 6 inches of snow, while somewhere between 8 inches to a foot could fall in Boston.

Some areas of central Pennsylvania and southern New England could get as much as 2 inches per hour on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.

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New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced New York City Public Schools, the nation's largest school system, will move to remote learning as the city prepares for a massive amount of snowfall.

"All relevant city agencies have been activated and preparations are underway," Adams said during a press conference, adding that a Code Blue Weather Emergency notice had been issued for homeless New Yorkers. The notice guarantees that any unhoused person seeking shelter in the city cannot be denied.

Snow is coming, and all our teams are ready.

We have been monitoring the forecast since last week, and it has changed significantly in the last 24 hours.@nycemergencymgt has now issued a travel advisory for tomorrow. Please avoid driving unless absolutely necessary, especially… pic.twitter.com/9vhBXATMXu

— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) February 12, 2024

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu declared a snow emergency, ordering municipal buildings and public schools closed on Tuesday and instituting a parking ban on major roads.

"With the arrival of our first major snowstorm this winter, City teams are prepared to clear our roadways and respond to any emergencies during the storm," Wu said in a statement.

"Please be aware of parking restrictions so that we can clear the roads as quickly as possible, and check on your neighbors, family, and friends to be sure everyone has a plan to stay inside and stay safe," she added.

Good morning! Here are the latest set of Key Messages for the winter storm tracking through the Mid-South today that will become a Nor'easter by Tuesday. Significant travel impacts are likely in the hardest hit areas of the Northeast on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/EXACwosgsG

— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) February 12, 2024

In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul warned residents of the potential for "significant snowfall," and urged people to stock up on essential items and avoid unnecessary travel. New York City public schools preemptively closed Tuesday and planned to hold classes remotely.

The National Weather Service says parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and New England could see several inches of snow — up to a foot in some areas — just before Valentine's Day.

More than 12 inches of snow could fall in some higher-elevation areas near the Poconos, the Catskills and parts of southern New England.

Snowfall rates are expected to pick up steadily on Tuesday, falling as quickly as 2 inches per hour across central Pennsylvania and southern New York in the morning and southern New England in the afternoon.

Weather

A nor'easter is coming for the Northeast, from Pennsylvania to Maine

The wet and windy conditions could fell trees and damage power lines, and also snarl traffic during the morning and evening commutes in several busy East Coast cities.

Forecasters also warned of the potential for moderate coastal flooding Tuesday night at high tide along the Jersey Shore and in parts of New York and New England.

Nor'easters are powerful storms that form along the East Coast with winds from the northeast, and such extreme weather events may be occurring more frequently and growing stronger due to climate change.

On Monday, the storm system was tracking through the Southeast, and will continue to move northeast toward the Carolinas in the evening. Meteorologists predict showers and thunderstorms across the Southeast.

The Oklahoma City metro area saw several inches of snowfall overnight Sunday, with a small area near Lawton in southwest Oklahoma receiving between 8 inches to a foot of snow, the NWS said.

A nor'easter could drop several inches of snow on New York City, New England (2024)

FAQs

What is a nor easter in new england? ›

A Nor'easter is a storm along the East Coast of North America, so called because the winds over the coastal area are typically from the northeast. These storms may occur at any time of year but are most frequent and most violent between September and April.

What other severe weather is associated with a nor easter? ›

Nor'easters can produce heavy snow and blizzards, rain and flooding, and huge crashing waves. These waves can cause erosion to the beach and severe damage to nearby buildings and structures. Nor'easters can also produce wind gusts that are even stronger than hurricane-force winds.

What is the difference between a nor Easter and a blizzard? ›

Therefore, a blizzard can be any type of storm that meets the definition above. However, a Nor'easter is a specific type of storm that moves up the east coast and is famous for producing rain, snow, sleet and of course, strong northeasterly winds.

What states are affected by the Nor Easter storm? ›

What states are affected by Nor'easters? Nor'easters generally make landfall from the Mid-Atlantic states up to the Atlantic Provinces of Canada. The heavily populated “I-95 Corridor,” the region between Washington DC, Philadelphia, New York City and Boston, is especially impacted by Nor'easters.

Why is the North East getting so much rain? ›

As climate change brings warmer temperatures, you have more water vapor in the atmosphere, which creates the right conditions for extreme precipitation,” says first author Christopher Picard '23, an earth sciences major and undergraduate researcher in the Applied Hydroclimatology Group at Dartmouth.

Is a nor easter a winter hurricane? ›

A nor'easter is a storm, usually in late winter or spring, that follows the eastern coastal regions of North America, usually bringing lots of rain and snow. They are large storms but not nearly as intense as a hurricane.

Why is a snow storm called a nor Easter? ›

A Nor'easter is a storm along the East Coast of North America, so called because the winds over the coastal area are typically from the northeast. These storms may occur at any time of year but are most frequent and most violent between September and April.

What was the highest wind speed in nor Easter? ›

The storm produced sustained tropical storm force winds, along with hurricane-force gusts in many areas. The highest wind gusts recorded were 93 mph (150 km/h) in Popponesset, Massachusetts and Matinicus Isle, Maine.

Is A blizzard stronger than a snowstorm? ›

The NWS defines a blizzard as snowfall while there are also higher than 35 mph winds. Alongside this it has to last three hours or more. What makes the blizzard unique is the wind as a blizzard without high wind is not a blizzard at all.

What was the worst winter blizzard? ›

The winter of 1880–1881 is widely considered the most severe winter ever known in many parts of the United States. The initial blizzard in October 1880 brought snowfalls so deep that two-story homes experienced accumulations, as opposed to drifts, up to their second-floor windows.

When was the worst blizzard? ›

The Iran blizzard of February 1972 was the deadliest blizzard in history, as recorded by the Guinness Book of Records. A week-long period of low temperatures and severe winter storms, lasting 3–9 February 1972, resulted in the deaths of over 4,000 people.

What state has the worst severe weather? ›

Flooding, hurricanes, ice storms, drought, wildfires and severe weather outbreaks... Mississippi tops the list. See where your state ranks.

What U.S. state has the worst storms? ›

Texas witnessed 368 major disasters from 1953 through 2022, according to MoneyWise, the most of any state. The recent standout is 2017's Hurricane Harvey, which had more than $125 billion in damage — most of it from catastrophic flooding in Texas. Harvey claimed the lives of 103 Texans.

What state gets the worst winter storms? ›

States that experience the most winter storms

The Great Plains region and upper Midwestern states that make up the so-called “Blizzard Alley” area of the U.S. — Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota — all experience frequent, severe winter storms.

What happens during a nor Easter? ›

Nor'easters are most common between September and April, and often bring heavy rain or snow, gale force winds and the risk of coastal flooding.

Where did Nor Easter get its name? ›

Nor'easters are named after the direction in which the strongest winds blow typically from the northeast. Nor'easters commonly form along the east coast of the U.S. and then progress northeastward, usually reaching maximum intensity near New England.

Where did the term nor Easter come from? ›

While the storms often affect the Northeast, the term nor'easter is derived from the fact that the winds around the low-pressure system blow from the northeast. These storms are more common from September to April and may bring snow and high winds to the regions they affect.

What is the impact of a nor Easter? ›

Threats from nor'easters and coastal storms include storm surge, high winds, heavy snow, heavy rainfall, inland flooding, rip currents, and beach erosion. Nor'easters can often last several days, affecting multiple tide cycles.

References

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