The snow weather forecast points to a late-week storm that could strengthen into a nor'easter and bring the season's first snow to some higher elevations in the Northeast. The system is expected to begin organizing late Wednesday, then track toward the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast by late Thursday.
Northeast and New England
A developing storm is expected to sweep out of the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley on Wednesday and bring rain to the region. By Thursday, much of the Northeast is expected to see spotty showers, while higher elevations could see their first snow of the season.
Accumulating snow is most likely across the higher elevations of New England and the interior Northeast, with some snow expected in parts of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire and upstate New York. That keeps the snow threat focused on the elevated terrain first, before any farther south or lower-elevation areas get anything close to a wintry signal.
Late Wednesday to late Thursday
Forecast models are increasingly confident that the storm will slide off the coast toward the end of the workweek and strengthen into a nor'easter. The setup includes a strong ridge over the western United States and colder Canadian air moving south into the Northeast, helping the system organize as it approaches the coast.
There is still uncertainty about how close to the coast the storm will track and how strong it will become. A closer track would favor a stronger coastal storm signal, while a farther track would keep the snow more limited to the higher elevations and interior areas.
Weekend temperature drop
As the storm clears the region by the weekend, temperatures will plunge across the eastern U.S. Those readings could reach as far south as the Gulf Coast and parts of Florida, and 160 million people are expected to see below average temperatures on Saturday.
For people in the Northeast, the practical issue is whether the first snow stays confined to higher elevations or expands into nearby communities before the weekend cold settles in. The sharp temperature drop follows the storm, so the most useful forecast check will be the final track and strength details as late Thursday arrives.
