Another arctic blast: Chills and lake-effect snow persist across Northeast and Southeast

Snow covers homes and streets near the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, Mich., Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (Neil Blake/The Grand Rapids Press via AP)

As the Canadian storm that unleashed heavy lake-effect snow and squalls in the Interstate 95 Northeast moves away, shifting Arctic winds will continue to produce lingering lake-effect snow bands through Saturday, particularly off Lakes Erie and Ontario, according to AccuWeather meteorologists.

Lingering Lake-Effect Snow

Lake-effect snow began midweek, adding several feet of snow to Great Lakes communities already blanketed by last weekend’s storms. The snow squalls caused hazardous conditions, covering roads and leading to numerous accidents and closures.

While the heaviest lake-effect snowfall has subsided, some snow bands in upstate New York and northwestern Pennsylvania will persist, making travel slippery.

Snow covers the sign for the North Perry Village Hall in North Perry, Ohio on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Patrick Aftoora-Orsagos)

Thursday to Friday Morning: Winds from the northwest directed snow bands toward southeastern shores of the Great Lakes, impacting areas from northern Wisconsin and Michigan to northern Ohio, northwestern Pennsylvania, and western and central New York.
Friday to Saturday: As winds shift to a more westerly direction, the snow bands will consolidate into thicker plumes, producing fresh accumulations of several inches to over a foot. In the most intense bands, AccuWeather predicts a StormMax™ snowfall of 24 inches, potentially causing additional road closures.

Calmer Conditions for Coastal Northeast

Away from the lake-effect snow, the mid-Atlantic and New England regions will experience much drier conditions through Saturday. Winds will also diminish compared to the gusty conditions earlier in the week. However, frigid air remains, and even a light breeze can make outdoor activities uncomfortable.

Arctic Blast Grips the Southeast

The cold air has also spread into the Southeast, with temperatures plunging into the 20s Friday morning in cities like Atlanta, Charlotte, Birmingham, and Columbia. These temperatures are 10–15 degrees below the December average.

The accompanying breeze exacerbates the cold, potentially freezing poorly insulated pipes. The brief Arctic chill poses additional challenges for Hurricane Helene victims in the southern Appalachians, many of whom remain without proper shelter.

Though the frigid conditions are expected to be short-lived, the lingering effects of the storm will keep much of the Northeast and Southeast grappling with wintry weather into the weekend.

Herbert Bauernebel

Herbert Bauernebel has been reporting from New York since 1999 and currently works for Bild.de, OE24 TV, and US Live. He also runs the news portal AmerikaReport.de. Bauernebel has covered nearly all major US events of the past quarter-century, including 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, Barack Obama’s election, Donald Trump’s surprise victory, the pandemic, last year’s election showdown, as well as natural disasters such as hurricanes and oil spills. He has also reported firsthand on international events, including the Asian tsunami, the Haiti earthquake, and the Fukushima disaster. He lives in Brooklyn with his family and holds degrees in communication and political science from the University of Vienna. Bauernebel is the author of a book about his experiences on 9/11, And the Air Was Full of Ash: 9/11 – The Day That Changed My Life.