This morning many people across the tristate area woke up to something that hasn't been seen in years... A good accumulation of Ice!!!! Across the area there were reports ranging from 0.25 inches (areas further to the south) all the way to more than 1 inch of accumulated ice across areas into northern NJ and CT. The NWS did an absolutely atrocious job with the storm. For Southwestern CT, we first saw a winter storm watch, then a winter storm warning, then a freezing rain warning, and then an Ice storm warning. I can't be too tough on them though, because my forecast basically matched theirs during the winter storm warnings... Anyways areas were covered in a really good thin but strong layer of ice this morning making travel impossible for some. The freezing rain had a lot of trouble changing over to anything non frozen due to how fast the storm moved, not allowing enough time for temperatures to warm up while anything was falling. There were a wide range of reports from this storm. I've heard anything from a couple fallen branches, to full trees crushing houses. Power outages were very widespread in areas, but tonight most of them have been restored. Something surprised me though in the last couple of hours though... The NWS actually put up winter weather advisories for areas from hartford on eastward for the remnants of whatever was left out in the west this morning. They think generally 1-3 inches could be picked up from whatever moves through, but that seems on the high side. I would just say some areas could pick up a quick coating of snow, with localized 1 inch amounts towards the extreme east coast. This will certainly be a storm to remember as areas even such as NYC picked up over a half inch of Ice! Central park recorded right around 0.60 inches of ice, sleet, and freezing rain...
Yes there is another storm. No, this will not compare at all to any of the systems we've seen so far this winter. My current forecast calls for mostly rain with some mixing toward the end of the storm from D.C. to Baltimore, while Philly will probably see rain going to a wintry mix and ending as a period of snow. DC and Baltimore should pick up only an inch or two of snow, but the further west you go, I could see more 3, 4, and 5 inch amounts, especially toward the apps. In Philly I see a general 2-4 inches of snow, with locally 5 inches, especially as you work your way west of the city. In fact if you go far enough west I believe you could see more 6 and 7 inch amounts. Once you head up toward the NYC area I believe there will be sprinkles quickly changing to sleet and snow, before going to all snow during most of saturday. I think a general 4-6 inches is in order for the area, but if you go to the north and west of the city that's where the jackpot will be for this storm. I think someone in there will pick up 6-10 inches of snow, but it should not be widespread. Even in and around the city I would not be surprised if there were localized 7 and 8 inch amounts. Then when you had up to the NYC to Boston corridor along the I-95 I believe it will be mostly snow, maybe a few sleet pellets to begin with the snow. Those areas will see probably a good 5-8 inches of snow with again maybe someone picking up 10 inches or so. Boston is also included in the 5-8 inch zone with locally 10 inches. Keep checking back as it seems we have another storm coming on into the middle of next week!
-Scott Pecoriello
