Brutal Cold, Snow to Hit Northeast This Weekend

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The Northeast is bracing for a blast of brutal cold and accumulating snow this weekend, with wind chills plummeting to dangerous levels in some areas. A quick-moving winter storm will bring snow showers to parts of the region on Friday, followed by more widespread snowfall on Saturday, especially in New England. Temperatures are forecast to struggle to reach the 20s in New York City, with lows dropping into the single digits. Wind chills could feel as low as 35 below zero in some locations, posing a risk of frostbite on exposed skin.

Why it matters

This cold snap represents the harshest weather conditions of the season so far for the Northeast, with the potential to disrupt travel, impact infrastructure, and pose health risks to vulnerable populations. The extreme cold and snow come on the heels of a relatively mild winter, making the sudden shift in weather patterns all the more jarring for residents.

The details

The winter storm will bring snow showers to Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio on Friday morning, followed by more widespread snowfall across Appalachia and into western Pennsylvania on Friday afternoon and evening. On Saturday, snow will spread across New England, with the highest totals of 2 to 4 inches expected along the eastern I-90 corridor from Syracuse to Buffalo. In addition to the snow, bitterly cold temperatures and strong winds will create dangerous wind chills, potentially dropping as low as 35 below zero in parts of northeastern New York.

• On Friday morning, a quick snow shower will move through Michigan, Indiana and Ohio.
• Friday afternoon, snow will fall from eastern Kentucky through western Pennsylvania.
• On Friday evening, scattered snow will be across Appalachia, from the Smoky Mountains to upstate New York.
• On Saturday, snow will fall over New England -- mainly for all areas north of New York City.
• High temperatures in New York City will only reach the 20s on Saturday and the teens on Sunday.

What’s next

Next week, a slow pattern change is expected, with average to even above average temperatures possible for the East by the middle and end of next week.