BLIZZARD WARNING for NYC and Boston, WSW for PHL BWI & D

[WXBUFFJIM]

Hey everyone. Busy times this morning. A winter storm warning remains in effect for Washington DC, Baltimore, and Philadelphia through tonight. A blizzard warning is now in effect for the entire New York City area including parts of northern New Jersey where heavy snow combined with winds sustained to 35-40 mph with gusts to 50-55 mph will cause blizzard conditions.

Also JUST ISSUED a blizzard warning in effect now for Boston, Plymouth, and Cape Cod, Mass tonight through Sunday morning. Heavy snowfall rates of 3-5 inches per hour combined with sustained winds of 40-50 mph with gusts to 60-70 mph will cause blizzard conditions.

Another problem will be coastal flooding from the new England coast down through Long Island Sound and the New York City area where moderate tidal flooding is expected at times of high tide later today and into tonight and Sunday morning. Some of the tidal flooding could potentially rival that to a category 1 hurricane meaning a significant impact especially in Long Island Sound and into the Cape Cod area. Some areas over the ocean could see wind gusts over hurricane force with this explosively developing nor' easter later tonight and into Sunday.

The following below are snow totals, which have been increased for Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. 3-5" per hour is likely along with the chance of thundersnow later today through tonight.

Washington DC: 6-12"
Baltimore, MD: 8-15"
Philadelphia, PA: 12-20"
New York City: 18-15"
Boston: 20-35"

All areas can expect higher drifts due to significant blowing and drifting snow from the wind starting later today and lasting through Sunday as wind gusts in general will be 50-70 mph in this region, closer to 50 mph in Washington, closer to 70 mph in Boston and Cape Cod in gusts. This is a life threatening situation and folks are URGED to avoid travel later today into tonight across the northeast and middle atlantic region.

Jim

[TexasSam]

All areas can expect higher drifts due to significant blowing and drifting snow from the wind starting later today and lasting through Sunday as wind gusts in general will be 50-70 mph in this region, closer to 50 mph in Washington, closer to 70 mph in Boston and Cape Cod in gusts. This is a life threatening situation and folks are URGED to avoid travel later today into tonight across the northeast and middle atlantic region.

Dang that's going to be a heck of a blast in a city! Whip that wind down a city street and your going to get what 100?

[BlizzardNole]

Jim I'll eat my hat if that comes true (6-12 for DC). We will be lucky to get half that the way things are going.

[jlauderdal]

Jim I'll eat my hat if that comes true (6-12 for DC). We will be lucky to get half that the way things are going.

Jim looks upped things 10-20% on winds and totals from NWS. We will verify monday morning.

[Heatseeker]

Jim I'll eat my hat if that comes true (6-12 for DC). We will be lucky to get half that the way things are going.

The freezing rain/ice worries me more than the snow (I am in Denton MD, the middle of the Delmarva Peninsula). It's my experience that for our particular region they almost always overestimate the snow totals and underestimate the ice buildup. The forests around here still bear the scars of the 1994 ice storm.

Glad I don't have to drive this weekend but worried about losing power.

[Persepone]

It's snowing lightly... The proverbial "dusting" so far... (just enough to turn the driveway white).

But the sun is out!

Temperature is 4 degrees.

[WXBUFFJIM]

In the Cape Cod area, I'm noting ocean effect snow showers and squalls and that's likely the reason for the snow there.

Here in Baltimore, MD snow started here about an hour ago and is sticking everywhere now. Alot more to come from DC up to especially Philly, New York, and Boston. Its looking bad tonight for the cape cod vicinity with a storm warning, a blizzard warning, and a coastal flood warning in effect.

Jim

[Dave C]

Hi Persepone, Take care tonite, your snow should be wetter and may mix with sleet. Hopefully we'll have no power issues, We were down to 5 below this am.