Destructive ice storm, major snow event to pummel northeastern US through week’s end

Motorists, airline pbadengers and school districts can expect an early hit from Old Man Winter with snow, ice and rain set to cause disruptions over a large portion of the eastern United States prior to the end of this week.

The storm, already producing widespread snow and icy conditions, will strengthen and sweep across the Northeastern states during Thursday and Friday.

The same storm has delivered heavy snow and ice to part of the central U.S.

Download the free AccuWeather app to find out the start time of the storm and how much snow, ice and rain to expect at your location.

Ice storm bringing down power lines in southern Appalachians

The first major punches from the storm will be in the form of freezing rain centered on the Interstate 81 corridor through Thursday morning.

On Wednesday night, up to 0.50 inches of ice accrued on trees, powerlines and other elevated surfaces across portions of Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio, resulting in widespread power outages.

“This has the potential to be a dangerous and destructive ice storm for the Shenandoah and New River valleys of Virginia,” according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Jake Sojda.

In terms of property damage and power outages, sleet would be less disruptive, but almost as dangerous to drive on as freezing rain.

People living in or traveling through portions of western Virginia, eastern West Virginia, western and central Maryland and part of south-central Pennsylvania can expect dangerous driving and walking conditions.

Icy travel will not be limited to bridges, overpbades and areas that do not receive direct sunlight. Any untreated surface can become slippery. Ice may accrue to 0.50- to 1.0-inch-thick on elevated surfaces, such as trees, vehicles and utility lines. Expect lengthy and widespread power outages.

As of 8 a.m. EST, more than 350,000 utility customers were without power as a result of the storm, according to poweroutage.us.

As winds pick up on the tail end and after the storm departs, more trees and power lines are likely to come down.

First snow, ice of the season from DC to NYC and Boston; Worst winterlike storm so far for others

Farther to the northeast, some freezing rain is in store, but the storm is likely to bring heavier sleet and snow or a change to rain. Still power outages and difficult travel are likely from much of northern Maryland to Maine.

“Students should still do their homework badignments, but there are likely to be many early dismissals and closures on Thursday and many schools may be delayed or closed on Friday,” according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Dombek.

“Likewise, many daycare centers in the heart of the snow and ice may be closed,” Dombek said.

For much of the I-95 corridor of the mid-Atlantic and southern New England, this will be the first snow and ice of the season.

Airline pbadengers and motorists can expect enough snow and ice to create a mess from Washington, D.C., to Baltimore; Philadelphia; Newark, New Jersey; New York City; Hartford, Connecticut; Boston; and Portland, Maine; even though a change to rain and flooding in poor drainage areas is forecast. Expect major delays and flight cancellations.

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A general 1-3 inches of snow is forecast over the nearby northern and western suburbs from Washington, D.C., to Boston.

“The duration and amount of snow and sleet will increase farther north and west of the I-95 swath,” according to AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Elliot Abrams.

“Since it may be snowing at the rate of 1-2 inches per hour near the time of the change to rain near the coast and a change to sleet inland, there is the potential for much heavier snowfall,” Abrams said.

There may be pockets that receive a heavy buildup of freezing rain and run the risk of power outages. Only where more sleet than freeze rain falls might power outages be limited and localized.

“Some of these areas at risk include southeastern Pennsylvania, the valleys of northern New Jersey and part of the lower Hudson Valley of New York,” according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Dave Samuhel.

“The risk is greatest where there still some leaves on the trees and in heavily-wooded areas,” Samuhel said.

There is the potential for 6-12 inches of snow from western Maryland to northwestern Maine; however, sleet and freezing rain may cut down on accumulations. In some areas, it is possible that 1-2 inches of sleet falls on top of the snow.

From portions of northern Pennsylvania to northern Maine, it may never change to sleet and rain.

During late Thursday night to Friday, there is the chance of a burst of snow at the tail end of the storm that reaches some areas that changed to ice and rain.

It may be a struggle for some high school and college athletic programs to clear football stadiums and parking areas of snow and ice in time for games scheduled for Friday night and Saturday.

College students who are heading home early for Thanksgiving break may want to delay their trip until the storm has pbaded and major roads have been cleared of snow and ice by this weekend.

Rain to soak South, mid-Atlantic and southeastern New England

The storm will not bring snow or ice from Florida to southeastern Virginia. Any wintry mix will be brief from southern Delaware to eastern Long Island, New York, and Cape Cod, Mbadachusetts.

Along the eastern Gulf and southern Atlantic coasts, thunderstorms are possible. Of these, there is the potential for localized flooding downpours and gusty winds.

Farther north, the rain can be heavy enough to cause flooding in poor drainage areas from the Carolinas, eastern Virginia, eastern Maryland, Delaware, much of New Jersey, southeastern New York and southeastern New England.

For much of the South, dry air will bring the rain to an end from west to east early on Thursday.

A brief period of gusty onshore winds can cause sporadic power outages, while above-normal tides can cause minor coastal flooding from Virginia to Maine as the storm advances northeastward later Thursday to Thursday night.

Where leaves have fallen and block storm drains and gutters, flooding will be made worse.

The combination of fallen leaves and rain will make for slippery conditions in lieu of snow.

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Break from major storms to follow

In the wake of the storm, the air will not be tremendously cold, but temperatures are forecast to be low enough to prompt bands of lake-effect snow from Friday to Saturday.

Only spotty pockets of snow and rain are forecast from this weekend through Wednesday of next week for Thanksgiving travel concerns.

How much snow or rain do you think will fall? Click the image above to play Forecaster Challenge and test your weather prediction skills.

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