NEW YORK, NY — A strengthening nor’easter is hammering the Northeast with heavy rain, gusty winds and a growing threat of travel delays on Friday. Along the Interstate 95 corridor, including New York City, rounds of heavier rain could slow the morning commute and add to airport disruptions.
The storm is tracking off the coast near Cape Cod while pressure falls and winds increase. At the same time, colder air pouring south from Canada is setting up the season’s first meaningful snow across higher elevations in upstate New York and New England, where accumulation is expected to be far greater than in the major coastal cities.
Severe storms Thursday left tornadoes, flash flooding and nearly 50 reports
The nor’easter did not arrive on a blank slate. It followed severe storms Thursday that generated nearly 50 storm reports from Delaware to New York, including several confirmed tornadoes and reports of tornadoes in both Delaware and New Jersey.
In New York City, the storms brought flash flooding, especially in residential parts of Brooklyn and Queens. Severe thunderstorms also triggered a Tornado Warning near JFK International Airport, where 3.32 inches of rain made it the second-wettest November day on record.
The same weather system also caused ground stops at JFK, LaGuardia, Newark Liberty International and Boston Logan International airports. Those disruptions delayed hundreds of flights and set the stage for another difficult day for travelers as the nor’easter moved through the region.
Heavy rain and wind could keep airport delays building across the I-95 corridor
Through Friday, the highest-impact corridor remains the stretch from Washington through New York and into southern New England, where rain and wind are expected to stay active for much of the day. FOX Weather says periods of heavier rain and gusty winds could again affect airports and the morning commute.
New York City is expected to begin drying out late Friday, but that does not mean the storm is finished affecting the region. Boston should keep seeing rain into the evening, with winds gusting 20 to 30 mph. A few flakes may mix in near the city as the storm exits, but no accumulation is expected there.
By Saturday morning, most precipitation should be ending as the system moves toward the Canadian Maritimes, although lingering snow showers may continue in parts of Maine, upstate New York and the Appalachians.
Upstate New York and northern New England brace for the best chance at accumulating snow
The heaviest snow is expected Friday afternoon into Saturday morning, with the best chance for accumulation across upstate New York and into southern Vermont and New Hampshire. Temperatures hovering near freezing may limit how quickly snow sticks at first, especially in lower elevations.
Once colder air deepens later Friday, the opportunity for snow to pile up improves. The Adirondacks, Green Mountains and White Mountains could see 1 to 3 inches, while higher terrain in the Catskills may reach 3 to 5 inches.
Valley communities such as Albany, Binghamton and Burlington are expected to see much lighter totals. FOX Weather notes that the storm’s exact track will matter, since a path closer to shore could keep moisture over the area longer and boost snowfall totals.
Hartwick measured 12.5 inches as snow totals climbed inland
Snow already piled up Thursday in parts of Central New York, especially between the Adirondack and Catskill mountains. Hartwick, New York, just south of Cooperstown, reported 12.5 inches, one of the standout totals from the early round of wintry weather.
That snow was part of the same broader storm pattern pushing from wet and windy conditions in the cities to more winterlike conditions inland. In areas farther from the coast, the combination of colder air and elevation made it easier for snow to accumulate quickly.
Those totals also underline how sharply conditions can change across short distances during a nor’easter. While major I-95 cities are expected to see little or no accumulation, nearby higher ground can still move into full snow mode.
Lake-effect snow ramps up around the Great Lakes into the weekend
As the nor’easter pulls away, cold air moving over the relatively warm Great Lakes is expected to trigger lake-effect rain and snow from Friday into the start of the weekend. Near-freezing temperatures will favor a mix of cold rain and wet snow, with totals depending heavily on elevation and the placement of the strongest bands.
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is favored for the heaviest snow, and northwest winds off Lake Superior could produce more than 6 inches in some spots. A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect for Marquette through Friday.
Farther south, lake-effect bands off Lake Michigan could deliver 1 to 3 inches in South Bend, Indiana, with more than 5 inches possible near Valparaiso if the band holds there. Western Michigan could also see 1 to 3 inches, with locally higher amounts possible north of Grand Rapids and some slushy accumulation in Chicago’s southern suburbs.