A blast of Arctic air is pouring into the eastern two-thirds of the United States, driving temperatures as much as 20 degrees below normal, with frigid conditions expected to linger as far south as Florida as people ring in the New Year.
The cold follows a recent powerful storm that brought blizzard conditions to parts of the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes. Andrew Orrison, a meteorologist at the Weather Prediction Center, said that as the storm pulled away into eastern Canada, it opened the door for some of the coldest air of the season to surge southward.
“Across the Great Lakes region and the Northeast in particular, temperatures will be the coldest of the year,” he said. “As much as 10 to potentially 20 degrees below normal.”
Blustery winds will add to the chill, Mr. Orrison said, while the cold air flowing over the relatively warm waters of the Great Lakes will fuel intense lake-effect snow. The snow is expected to become heavier on Wednesday as a weather system known as an Alberta clipper — so named because it forms in the Canadian province — moves through the area.
“Especially off Lake Erie and Ontario, involving western and central New York, we are looking at upward of another one to three feet of snow,” he said. “And some of that heavy snow is also going to get into the central Appalachians, like the higher terrain of West Virginia, far west Maryland and southwest Pennsylvania with up to a foot by New Year’s Day.”
Winter storm warnings were in effect through 7 a.m. Saturday across portions of central and western New York, including the Syracuse, Buffalo and Jamestown metro areas. Forecasters said that heavy snowfall combined with wind gusts of up to 45 miles per hour could produce whiteout conditions, making travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening.
In response to the lake effect snow and strong winds, Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York expanded an emergency declaration to cover the entire state. Residents were urged to avoid all unnecessary travel, follow guidance from local authorities and telecommute when possible.
Snow squalls — sudden bursts of heavy snow — were also expected later Wednesday and into early New Year’s Day, especially over the Ohio Valley through Pennsylvania and into western New York. The Weather Prediction Center said these could rapidly reduce visibility and raised the risk of road accidents.
Forecasters said snow showers were expected on Wednesday across the upper Midwest, the far northern Plains and interior New England. The snow was likely to linger longest in West Virginia before tapering off on Thursday.
The cold air is also spreading well into the South. By Tuesday morning, freezing temperatures had already reached the Florida Panhandle, and by Wednesday the chill is expected to push as far south as the suburbs of Tampa. Freeze warnings and cold weather advisories were in effect for central and northern Florida through 9 a.m. Wednesday, also extending into portions of southeast Georgia.
A chance for snow in Times Square?
New Year’s Eve is expected to remain chilly across much of the Southeast, with daytime highs ranging from the 50s to the mid-60s, before a gradual warming trend develops into the new year.
As revelers gather in Times Square for New Year’s Eve celebrations, Mr. Orrison said wintry weather could also make an appearance.
“We’re looking at cold blustery conditions for the New Year’s Eve festivities around New York City, and there’s the threat for some snow showers,” he said. “So it’s going to be rather wintry, and people should certainly bundle up.”
As the week goes on, the bitter cold is expected to slowly loosen its grip on the northern states. However, forecasters said temperatures would remain slightly below normal for the start of the new year, especially across northern New England.
Nazaneen Ghaffar is a Times reporter on the Weather team.
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