A developing low‑pressure system could deliver the season’s first snow to parts of the Northeast before a sweeping cold front chills the eastern half of the country.
Key points
- Two plausible storm tracks exist: an inland path that favors snow in higher elevations, and a coastal path that could bring heavier rain and wind to the seaboard.
- A significant cold air outbreak is expected to begin Friday, pushing afternoon highs into the 30s‑40s and lows into the 20s across the Northeast.
- More than 110 million people in the eastern U.S. could experience below‑average temperatures by the weekend, according to FOX Weather.
- Snow accumulation is most likely in the mountains of New England and northern New York; coastal areas will probably see rain or a brief, non‑accumulating mix.
Forecasters at FOX Weather say a low‑pressure wave expected to form over the Ohio Valley late Wednesday could evolve into a nor'easter later in the week, bringing a mix of rain, snow and gusty winds from Thursday through Saturday across the Mid‑Atlantic and New England.
Model guidance diverges on the storm’s track. One scenario has the initial low moving inland across the Ohio Valley and eastern Great Lakes before handing energy to a secondary coastal low, which would keep the I‑95 corridor relatively dry while higher terrain inland picks up snow. A second scenario places the developing low closer to the Atlantic coast, increasing the chance of heavier rain and stronger winds for coastal areas, though snow would still be limited without sufficient cold air.
Storm scenarios and expected impacts
Regardless of the exact path, a surge of colder Canadian air is set to spill eastward by Friday, driving afternoon highs into the 30s and 40s for much of the Northeast while lows dip into the 20s. FOX Weather estimates the cold snap could affect more than 110 million people, with the number of Americans experiencing below‑average temperatures rising from roughly 4 million on Tuesday to over 160 million by Saturday.
Snowfall, if it occurs, is most likely confined to the higher elevations of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, northern New York and the Appalachian foothills. The I‑95 corridor and other low‑lying coastal locations are expected to see rain or a brief mix that is unlikely to accumulate, given surface temperatures and limited cold air.
Temperature plunge and regional outlook
The broader pattern stems from a strong ridge building over the western United States, which is funneling cold polar air southward while warmer air builds in the West. A dip in the polar jet stream and an early disruption of the stratospheric polar vortex are also contributing to the setup, according to the FOX Forecast Center.
By Saturday the system should move offshore toward Canada, but lingering moisture and northwesterly flow could produce scattered snow showers from Maine down through central Pennsylvania. After the storm departs, the late‑autumn air mass is expected to settle, keeping temperatures well below seasonal normals for several days.
FOX Weather advises viewers to monitor updates as the situation evolves, noting that the western U.S. will experience warmer, drier conditions while the East braces for the combined rain‑snow‑wind event and subsequent cold wave.
Reader questions
Will the nor'easter bring snow to major cities like New York and Boston?
Forecasters expect only light rain or a brief rain‑snow mix in low‑lying coastal cities, making measurable snow unlikely. Snow is more probable in the higher elevations of New England and the interior Northeast.
When is the cold air expected to arrive and how cold will it get?
Cold air is projected to move into the eastern United States beginning Friday, with daytime highs in the 30s‑40s and overnight lows dropping into the 20s, especially in the Northeast and Great Lakes regions.
How many people could be affected by the temperature drop?
FOX Weather estimates that the cold snap could impact over 110 million people, with the number of Americans experiencing below‑average temperatures rising from about 4 million on Tuesday to more than 160 million by Saturday.
Source: foxweather.com
