Nor'easter on the Prowl

This week of January has shown to be as bitterly cold as its predecessors. Allowing for record cold temperatures to infiltrate the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. The blocking arctic high that had kept the temperatures as low as they had been is also a steering mechanism. Along the high is the Jet Stream, which is the steering force for many low pressure systems. In this case making this storm ride along it right up the east coast.

 The Low itself had dipped into the warm Gulf of Mexico, which intern saturated it. Filling it with moisture laden air from the Gulf. Once this air was pushed into the system, it strengthened and gathered more moisture. This system is now going to meet up with its southern branch, which as of today has made its way through the Appalachians. That southern branch making upper air instability.Once these two systems come together in weather terms what people call "a bomb" will be formed. This certain system will bomb out because it will meet up with a upper air disturbance, making instability in the atmosphere. Finally allowing a full fledged Nor'easter to lash the east coast.

This will not be a extremely strong Nor'easter, but it will do its damage, It will move through with heavy snow and breezy conditions. This making for slippery and dangerous travel along the I-95 corridor tonight. Luckily this storm will move quickly and by morning will be out of most of the North East, though Boston should still be seeing snow until late morning. As expected, if the storm is moving at a good clip that will limit its ability to drop excessive amounts of the white stuff. That does not mean there will not be high amounts of snow, it just means you will not be seeing the 2+ feet of snow we saw in December.

Snow Amounts

New York- 6''-12''


Boston- 8''-12''   (Locally 12''+)


Philadelphia- 8''-12''   (Locally 12''+)


Baltimore- 5''-8''


Washington D.C.- 5''-8''