Let’s call it a bomb cyclone or a nor’easter. This January-to-February storm will be one to remember for some on the East Coast.
A winter storm brought snow and ice. Check out the before and after videos.
Here’s a look at some locations across the country before and after the winter storm that brought snow, sleet, and ice to multiple states.
Whether you call it a bomb cyclone, a nor’easter, or a blizzard, it will be a memorable weekend weather event for some along the East Coast as January turns to February.
“This storm has the potential to bring heavy snow and strong winds to the Southeast this weekend,” AccuWeather senior meteorologist Scott Homan said in a Jan. 29 email to USA TODAY.
There’s even a chance of snow in Florida as bitterly cold air moves south across the Sunshine State.
“People should prepare for the possibility of dangerous snowstorms in some coastal areas from North Carolina to the southern Jersey coast,” Homan said. “Blizzard conditions could extend into parts of Long Island and southern New England.”
This will cause “snow and blowing snow to rapidly reduce visibility, making travel extremely hazardous,” the National Weather Service said in an online forecast.
Snow forecast in Carolina, Virginia
The chance of more than 6 inches of snow is increasing in North Carolina and the Tidewater region of Virginia, according to Weather.com, which says forecast guidance is more consistent with this snowstorm becoming a major snowstorm.
“For cities like Charlotte, Raleigh and Greensboro, North Carolina, this could be the biggest snowstorm in decades,” AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said in an online forecast. “Norfolk, Virginia, could exceed last February’s whopping 11.1 inches.”
The National Weather Service’s official forecast calls for 8.4 inches in Raleigh, 7 inches in Greensboro and 6 inches in Charlotte.
Snow is also possible in parts of eastern Georgia, eastern Tennessee and southern West Virginia, the weather service said.
The Bureau of Meteorology warned that strong winds and the weight of snow on tree branches could snap power lines and cause sporadic power outages. “Large-scale closures and infrastructure disruptions are possible, which could make travel unsafe or impossible.”
Florida snow forecast
Snow falling on the Florida peninsula is sure to be a conversation piece. An even bigger story is the frigid temperatures across the state. The National Weather Service in Tampa said Saturday, Jan. 31, the area could see a mix of light snow and rain, or snow showers or storms.
Snow forecast for Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland
Snow is possible in coastal areas of Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland, but the more significant event will be strong winds. For example, 2 inches of snow is expected in Ocean City, Maryland, and 1 inch is expected in Dover, Delaware, and Atlantic City, New Jersey, according to the National Weather Service.
Strong north-to-northeast winds are becoming more likely, which could lead to major coastal flooding on Sunday 1 February.
“This rapidly deepening storm system will generate strong onshore winds along the Mid-Atlantic coast north from North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Hurricane-force wind gusts, combined with astronomical storm surge, will cause moderate to locally significant coastal flooding,” the weather service said.
Snow forecast for New England
Most of New England’s snow will fall in southeastern Massachusetts, including Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Island.
AccuWeather meteorologists believe the region most likely to see 6 to 12 inches of snow in the Northeast will be in southeastern Massachusetts.
According to Weather.com, one question that remains is regarding snowfall in Boston. “It is not yet clear whether the offshore low, or combination of lows, will windmill far enough offshore to keep the potential for heavy snow on Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, or whether it will move the heavy snow band from far northwest into Boston,” Weather.com meteorologists Rob Shackelford and Jonathan Erdman said in a Jan. 29 online forecast.
