According to forecasts from the US National Weather Service and AccuWeather, a large-scale winter storm is expected to sweep across the central and northeastern United States on Christmas Day (December 25) and in the following days, potentially leading to dangerous road conditions and delays in return trips after Christmas.
The storm is projected to bring ice and snow to the upper Midwest on Friday (December 26) and move through the lower Northeast on Saturday morning (December 27), as reported by USA Today on Thursday (December 25).
On Christmas Day, snowfall is expected in the Northeast, with snow in the upper Midwest arriving later in the day.
By Friday, a second storm is set to start in Michigan, moving across Pennsylvania into the upper Mid-Atlantic region and bringing a wintry mix of precipitation, including snow, freezing rain, and sleet.
The National Weather Service (NWS) states that this winter storm may create dangerous driving conditions after Christmas, causing delays and interruptions in transportation such as trains and planes, and possibly leading to power outages. Several inches of snow and ice accumulation are anticipated on roads, while glaze ice could result in broken branches and power line failures, leading to power outages.
According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), about 122.4 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles during the year-end holidays, with nearly 110 million choosing to travel by car. This storm could potentially impact the post-holiday travel plans of millions of people.
Freezing rain is expected to move through northern Minneapolis and Wisconsin on Thursday night, reaching Michigan on Friday morning, and later moving to the western and central parts of Pennsylvania in the late morning.
Ice accumulation in Pennsylvania is projected to reach a quarter of an inch, with areas like Johnstown and Clarion possibly exceeding this thickness.
Northeastern West Virginia, central and northwestern Pennsylvania, and most parts of Michigan (including Detroit) may see ice accumulation of up to 0.2 inches. Driving on untreated road surfaces could be challenging. Travelers along I-80 and I-70 highways should exercise extreme caution, as severe icing could also cause power outages.
Snow could potentially start in New York City as early as noon on Thursday, with the majority of snowfall expected after 4 pm. Snow is likely to continue through Thursday night, affecting New York City, upstate New York, New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and other areas. Boston is not expected to have significant snowfall. Most of the moderate to heavy snow is expected to end by Sunday morning (December 28) before 4 am.
AccuWeather senior meteorologist Tyler Roys mentioned that this could be the largest snowstorm in New York City so far this season.
According to forecasts, the most snow accumulation is expected in New York City, northern New Jersey, the southern Hudson Valley, and western Pennsylvania, with amounts possibly exceeding half a foot, reaching 8 to 9 inches in some areas. Parts of New York, northeastern Pennsylvania, and northern New Jersey may see over 6 inches of snow.
Furthermore, the Washington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia metropolitan areas could experience dangerous icing conditions.