What you should know
- Light rain and snow showers arrive Monday morning. It’s just a taste of what’s to come later in the storm.
- The afternoon rain becomes heavy and we will begin to see heavy snow to the north and west of the city which will accumulate overnight.
- Everyone in the city and along the coast will be impacted by bad weather and snow is always a possibility.
NEW YORK – We may be making progress, but a “significant” winter system will affect much of the region this week, generating a snowfall that could dump about a foot of snow in parts of the tri-state area .
The storm could start Monday, the strongest part in the evening and last most of Tuesday. However, the track of this storm has the potential to change and this would determine where and how much snow falls in the region.
As the sky settles over the region, some may receive more heavy rain while others may dig up a foot of snow.
Temperatures appear to be responsible for this system, especially for New York, Long Island and surrounding suburbs. The storm may not bring snow to this part of the tri-state if temperatures remain warm enough. If there is a colder shift, it is still possible for a few inches of snow to accumulate by the time the system clears.
What seems fairly certain is heavy snowfall predicted for northern New Jersey and the Hudson Valley. The further north you look, the more snow you will find for Tuesday afternoon and early Wednesday morning. While one foot is possible for Sullivan, Dutchess and Ulster counties, Westchester, Fairfield and Rockland counties could still see around six inches.
Regardless of the totals, Tuesday morning’s commute will be unpleasant no matter where you are. Don’t be surprised to see a number of school cancellations.
Winter storm watches have already been activated for certain areas north and west of the city. Check out the latest National Weather Service alerts here.
Storm timeline and expectations
NEW YORK AND LONG ISLAND
- Monday: Periods of rain throughout the day.
- Monday evening: Heavy rain and possible localized flooding.
- Tuesday: Rain mixes with snow and turns to snow; only minor accumulations
NORTHWESTERN NEW JERSEY, CATSKILLS, LOWER HUDSON VALLEY AND CONNECTICUT
- Monday: Snow for Pike/Sullivan/North Orange counties early; it may change to rain at noon.
- Monday evening: Hours of heavy snow, possibly seeing half a foot in the morning.
- Tuesday: Snow persists for most of the day, dissipating in the afternoon.
Winds will also pick up, bringing gusts to 30 to 50 mph on Tuesday and possibly stronger gusts for Long Island. And as the storm recedes on Wednesday, the gusty winds are expected to continue.
Temperatures rise again the rest of the week with a mix of sunshine, clouds and a few showers ahead of the St. Patrick’s Day holiday weekend.