January 1, Major Winter Storm Threatens Eastern US Snowfall

Wyatt’s Take

• Dynamic winter storm could hit from Southeast to Northeast
• Snowfall totals and impacts still uncertain
• Clipper system and low pressure to drive major changes

A new winter storm is gearing up to sweep across the East, with regions from the Tennessee River Valley to the Northeast in its sights.

Snow could push into the Mid-Atlantic and New England later in the week, but forecasters say a lot depends on the storm’s path and timing of colder air.

This storm will look different from most recent ones. Instead of coming cross-country, it’s powered by a fast-moving clipper from the Great Lakes that teams up with cold air dropping south.

The cold front riding ahead is set to stall, letting a fresh low-pressure system develop over the Appalachians by Wednesday night.

“This combination is likely to trigger the onset of snow initially in the Tennessee River Valley and the southern Appalachians, with the precipitation then spreading to the north.”

Experts are calling this a hybrid storm, meaning it doesn’t have a single strong center at the start, making it tricky to predict where snow will fall.

The storm’s progress depends on when cold air arrives and how much moisture gets pulled in.

Areas close to I-95 could see anything from little to a lot of snow, with details depending on how the storm evolves Thursday into Friday.

Forecasters are more confident that southern areas, like the Appalachians, will get heavier snow, thanks to cold air meeting higher ground.

Still, much of the Northeast could get anything from a dusting to plowable amounts, depending on how this unique storm sets up.

Want to stay ahead of the storm? Make sure you’re prepared for winter weather and keep watching updates as the track becomes clearer.

Wyatt Matters

Weather like this reminds folks in Middle America how important it is to be ready, prepared, and to look out for your neighbors when storms threaten our communities.

More about the upcoming winter storm