Major storm to hit Northeast says forecast
A major winter storm is expected to dump up to two feet of snow this weekend across portions of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, beginning on Friday, the National Weather Service said Thursday.
A storm system currently developing in the western Gulf of Mexico promises to leave quite a legacy across the South and East by the time it exits the country late Saturday.
A winter storm watch — issued when conditions are favorable for hazardous winter weather — was in effect for Washington; Baltimore, Maryland; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which were targeted to receive the brunt of the storm.
From out of Texas, moderate to heavy rain is shifting eastward across Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Quickly the Southeast will become part of the soaker as well especially overnight and Friday.
Baltimore could receive 16 to 18 inches of snow, with isolated amounts of two feet; Washington, 12 to 16 inches with isolated amounts up to 20 inches; and Philadelphia, eight to 12 inches.
A large area of the South will see two to three inches of rain with amounts along the Gulf Coast running locally as high as five inches.
A watch provides 12 to 36 hours notice of the possibility of severe weather, according to the weather service.
The heavy rain will be falling onto areas that have been no strangers to bouts of heavy rain this winter which will only serve to increase the likelihood of localized flooding.
Winter storm watches also cover most of Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, southern New Jersey, eastern West Virginia, Indiana, Ohio and western North Carolina. Up to two inches of snow are predicted for Newark, New Jersey, and New York.
Flood watches remain in effect from southern Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle and much of Georgia.
Winter storm warnings, indicating that severe weather is almost certain to occur, were issued for the southern and central Appalachians.
As the precipitation expands northward into colder air in place across the western Carolinas overnight, the icing threat will increase.
North and west of the I-85 corridor in North Carolina and Virginia, a mix of freezing rain, sleet and snow is expected. The extreme northern part of South Carolina and northeast tip of Georgia may also deal with a period of freezing rain before changing to rain.
A band of moderate to occasionally heavy snow will develop later this afternoon around the Saint Louis area then stretch eastward reaching the Indianapolis area overnight then as far east as Pittsburgh by Friday.
Heavy snow will extend as far north as Philadelphia where 6 to 12 inches of snow is possible by the time all is said and done.
