Destructive ice storm: a major snow episode will hit the northeastern United States until the end of the week

Motorists, airline passengers and school districts can expect the Old Man Winter to be quickly hit by snow, ice and rain, disrupting much of the eastern United States before the end of the week.

The storm, which is already producing a lot of snow and ice, will strengthen and sweep the northeastern states on Thursday and Friday.

The same storm delivered abundant snow and ice in part of the central United States.

Download the free AccuWeather app to know the start time of the storm and the amount of snow, ice and rain to expect on your site.

Ice storm destroying power lines in the southern Appalachians

The first major impacts of the storm will be in the form of freezing rain centered on the interstate corridor 81 until Thursday morning.

Wednesday night, up to 0.50 inches of ice has accumulated on trees, power lines and other high surfaces in parts of Indiana, Kentucky and the United States. Ohio, causing many power outages.

"This could be a dangerous and destructive ice storm for the Shenandoah and New River valleys in Virginia," said Jake Sojda, a meteorologist at AccuWeather.

As for material damage and power outages, sleet would be less disturbing, but almost as dangerous to drive as freezing rain.

People who live or travel in parts of western Virginia, eastern West Virginia, west and central Maryland and part of the South Central Pennsylvania can expect dangerous driving and walking conditions.

Ice travel will not be limited to bridges, viaducts and non-sun areas. Any untreated surface can become slippery. Ice can reach between 0.50 and 1.0 inch thick on high surfaces, such as trees, vehicles and utility lines. Expect long and widespread power outages.

According to poweroutage.us, more than 350,000 utility customers were without power as a result of the storm at 8 am EST.

As the winds blow to the back and after the storm starts, more trees and power lines are likely to fall.

First snow, ice of the DC season in NYC and Boston; Worst winter storm up to now for others

Further north-east, freezing rain is expected, but the storm is likely to produce sleet and thicker snow, or even a change in rain. Power outages and hard shifts are likely to occur from northern Maryland to Maine.

"Students should still do their homework, but there will likely be a lot of early layoffs and closures on Thursday and many schools could be delayed or closed on Friday," said Dave Dombek, Senior Meteorologist at AccuWeather.

"Similarly, many daycare centers in the heart of the snow and ice can be closed," Dombek said.

For most of the I-95 corridor in central Atlantic and southern New England, it will be the first snow and ice of the season.

Air passengers and motorists can expect enough snow and ice to create a mess from Washington, DC to Baltimore; Philadelphia cream; Newark, New Jersey; New York City; Hartford, Connecticut; Boston; and Portland, Maine; even if a change of rain and flood in poor drainage areas is expected. Expect significant delays and flight cancellations.

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There is generally 1 to 3 inches of snow on the surrounding north and west suburbs, from Washington, DC to Boston.

"The duration and amount of snow and slush will increase further north and west of the I-95 band," said Elliot Abrams, chief meteorologist at AccuWeather.

"As it can snow at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour around the time of the change of rain on the coast and melted snow in the interior, it is possible that the snowfall is much more important, "said Abrams.

Some areas may have a heavy accumulation of freezing rain and run the risk of power outages. Power outages can only be limited and localized where there is less rain than freezing rain.

"Some of these high-risk areas include southeastern Pennsylvania, the valleys of northern New Jersey, and a portion of the lower Hudson Valley in the state of New York," Dave said. Samuhel, meteorologist at AccuWeather.

"The risk is greater where there are still leaves on trees and in heavily wooded areas," said Samuhel.

There is a 6 to 12 inch snow potential from western Maryland to northwestern Maine; However, slush and freezing rain can reduce build-up. In some areas, 1 to 2 inches of slush may fall on the snow.

From parts of northern Pennsylvania to northern Maine, it can never be converted into ice pellets or rain.

From Thursday evening to Friday night late at night, there may be a blast of snow at the end of the storm, reaching some areas changed to ice and rain.

It can be difficult for some sports programs at high schools and colleges to clear snow and ice at football stadiums and car parks in time for scheduled matches on Friday night and Saturday.

Students who come home early for the Thanksgiving break may want to delay their trip until the storm has passed and the main roads have been cleared of snow and ice. 39, here this weekend.

Rain to absorb the south, the center of the Atlantic coast and the south-east of New England

The storm will not bring snow or ice from Florida to southeast Virginia. Any winter composition will be brief from southern Delaware east of Long Island (New York) to Cape Cod (Massachusetts).

Along the eastern shores of the Gulf and the South Atlantic, thunderstorms are possible. Among these, there is the potential for localized floods and bursts of gusts.

Further north, the rain may be strong enough to cause flooding in the poor drainage areas of the Carolinas, eastern Virginia, eastern Maryland, Delaware, most of southeastern New York and southeastern New England.

In much of the south of the country, the dry air will end the rain from west to east early Thursday.

A brief period of gusting winds over the mainland may cause sporadic power outages, while above-normal tides may cause mild coastal flooding from Virginia to Maine as the storm heads northeast Thursday. Thursday night.

Where the leaves have fallen and block the storm sewers and gutters, the floods will worsen.

The combination of dead leaves and rain will make slippery conditions instead of snow.

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Break of major storms to follow

As a result of the storm, the air will not be extremely cold, but temperatures should be low enough to induce lake-effect snow bands from Friday to Saturday.

Only a few pockets of scattered snow and rain are expected between the weekend and Wednesday of next week for reasons related to Thanksgiving trips.

How much snow or rain do you think it will fall? Click on the image above to play Forecaster Challenge and test your skills in time forecasting.

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