Snow Storm May Sweep Across U.S. Northeast

By Brian K. Sullivan - Oct 28, 2011 7:08 PM GMT+0700

The season’s first “nor’easter” is expected to spread snow and heavy rain across New York and the U.S. Northeast tomorrow, the National Weather Service said.

Higher temperatures in New York City may mean a half-inch to an inch of snow (1 to 3 centimeters) sticking to grass while leaving pavement clear, said Tim Morrin, a weather service meteorologist in Upton, New York. About 50 miles north and west of the city, 6 inches or more may fall, he said.

“It is definitely going to be a significant early season winter storm, a classic nor’easter,” Morrin said. “It is not unusual to have nor’easters in late October, it’s just unusual to have all the snow.”

A winter storm watch is in place for tomorrow from the mountains of Virginia to northeastern Maine including northern New Jersey and the lower Hudson River Valley, where as much as 10 inches of snow may fall in some areas. A hazardous weather statement posted for New York City warns of slushy snow and heavy rain.

Rain will change to snow in New York later tomorrow, Morrin said. Light snow will start farther inland early and then grow in intensity throughout the day, according to the weather service. The heavy wet snow may snap tree branches and power lines, said Matt Rogers of Commodity Weather Group LLC.

A storm that passed through yesterday drew cold air into the area and tomorrow’s system will feed on that, Morrin said.

Yesterday’s storm left at least half an inch of snow on grass and cars in suburban Boston. As much as 5 inches of new snow is expected to fall this weekend west of Boston, according to the weather service.

Elsewhere, less than an inch of snow is expected in Baltimore and Washington, while Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, may receive as much as 9 inches, according to the weather service. Newburgh, New York, may get as much as 8 inches and 7 may fall in Morristown, New Jersey.

The weather service has declared Oct. 23 to Oct. 29 “winter awareness week.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Brian K. Sullivan in Boston at bsullivan10@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Dan Stets at dstets@bloomberg.net