A wintry blast is poised to greet the new year, with much of the U.S. bracing for freezing temperatures, heavy snow, or drenching rain, depending on location.
The forecast for New Year’s Eve and the days following shows another wave of lake-effect snow targeting the Great Lakes and the Northeast, building on a powerful winter storm system that already delivered significant snowdrifts and strong winds to those regions in the days after Christmas. Meanwhile, California is preparing for a wet New Year’s, with the moisture expected to spread into the Northwest later this week.
Forecasters say the northern and eastern parts of the country will experience frigid conditions, with temperatures expected to be 10 to 20 degrees below average for this time of year. Conversely, the West will be significantly warmer, with temperatures 15 to 25 degrees above average.
Lake Effect Snow
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Lake-effect snowfall continued to accumulate Wednesday in areas downwind of the Great Lakes, with western New York and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula reporting the highest totals. Some locations could receive an additional 1 to 3 feet of snow by New Year’s Day, on top of the up to 2 feet that fell in the last 48 hours from recent winter storms.
The National Weather Service issued Lake effect snow warnings for numerous towns and cities in northern Ohio, New York state, and western Pennsylvania, remaining in effect through Thursday. The Albany Weather Bureau cautioned that conditions could hinder travel, as they may change rapidly.
“During lake-effect snow, weather may vary from bands of locally heavy snow to dry weather a few miles away. Visibility may also vary greatly,” the NWS Albany office wrote in its latest advisory. “Be prepared for rapid changes in weather, visibility and road conditions.”
The Cold Front Approaches the East Coast
Colder air is settling over the East Coast as another cold front approaches, according to a meteorologist.
New York City revelers gathering in Times Square for the annual ball drop are likely to experience the coldest event in eight years, with temperatures expected to remain just above freezing. Colder wind chills and flurries or snow showers are possible around midnight, according to a local meteorologist.
Similar conditions are possible in other cities along the I-95 corridor, such as Boston. A heavier snow blast is possible across Boston and southeastern Massachusetts as New Year’s Eve arrives.
Western Storms
The southwestern United States is currently experiencing rain, which will move north over the next few days and bring snowfall to the Sierra Nevada.
Southern California will be hit with heavy rain starting New Year’s morning, with a “slight risk of excessive precipitation” for parts of the region, according to the National Weather Service.
Major cities potentially affected include Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Reno, Nevada.
The weather service also issued flood watches for parts of Southern California, remaining in effect until New Year’s Eve.
In the Los Angeles area, the storm is expected to bring up to 1 inch of rain per hour at its peak around 10 p.m. PT on New Year’s Eve. Up to 2 inches of rain could accumulate in most inland and coastal locations between Wednesday morning and Thursday night, with higher amounts forecast in the mountains.
