HOBOKEN, NJ - DECEMBER 21: The sun sets on the skyline of lower Manhattan and One World Trade Center on the winter solstice as a person walks through a park on December 21, 2024, in Hoboken, New Jersey. (Photo by Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)
A powerful winter storm is rapidly moving toward New York City, with forecasts predicting over four inches of snow in metro areas and more than six inches in the suburbs by late Saturday night.
However, an early Sunday shift from snow to freezing rain and sleet could impact final accumulation totals.
Winter weather alerts have been issued for the entire region.
Saturday morning and afternoon: Skies will be mostly cloudy with temperatures near 36 degrees but wind chills as low as 20. Snow is not expected to begin until after 4 p.m.
5 p.m. Saturday: Snowfall begins across the area. A winter storm warning is in effect for Connecticut, the Lower Hudson Valley, and parts of northeast New Jersey, while a winter weather advisory is issued for New York City, Long Island, and most of New Jersey.
7 p.m. Saturday: Snowfall intensifies, with rates of one to two inches per hour possible. Hazardous road conditions are expected, along with the potential for ice accumulation.
1 a.m. Sunday: As temperatures rise above freezing, snow will mix with or change to freezing rain and sleet. Coastal areas are likely to see a full transition to rain as precipitation intensity decreases.
7 a.m. Sunday: The mix of rain and snow will gradually subside.
11 a.m. Sunday: Winter storm warnings and advisories will be lifted.
Tuesday evening-Wednesday: Another storm system could bring additional snowfall, with the National Weather Service estimating a 30 to 50 percent chance of accumulation.
The National Weather Service predicts snowfall amounts of three to five inches for New York City, northern New Jersey, and most of Long Island. Some areas in northern Suffolk County could see higher totals. Connecticut and the Lower Hudson Valley are forecast to receive between five and seven inches, with a light glaze of ice expected across the region.
Final snowfall amounts depend on how quickly surface temperatures rise above freezing.
If snow bands develop and the wintry mix remains limited, accumulation could reach five to eight inches in some areas. However, if the storm shifts north or the mix of rain and sleet arrives sooner, snowfall in New York City could be significantly lower.
With another potential storm expected midweek, meteorologists are closely monitoring conditions to assess additional impacts in the days ahead.
The massive winter storm is set to blanket 27 states with up to a foot of snow, ice, and freezing rain, creating dangerous travel conditions and widespread power outages.
Winter Storm Garnett will have started on Friday, sweeping through the Northern Plains before moving into the Midwest and hitting the East Coast by Saturday.
The storm is expected to impact a wide area, including North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.
The Northeast will also be hit hard, with heavy snow predicted in Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued weather alerts for 30 million people from the eastern Rockies to New York City and Boston. Officials warn of dangerous road conditions, ice accumulation, and potential power outages. The NWS is advising residents to avoid travel if possible and to carry a winter storm kit with essentials like a shovel, flashlight, blankets, and extra clothing.
AccuWeather meteorologists are calling Garnett “the biggest storm of the winter” for parts of the Northeast. Forecasts show six to 12 inches of snow expected from the Dakotas to Boston, with some areas seeing up to 18 inches. Cities like Minneapolis, Green Bay, and Buffalo could see significant accumulation, while areas like Fargo, Sioux Falls, and Detroit may get up to three inches.
In addition to heavy snow, a dangerous mix of sleet and freezing rain is expected from Iowa to the New England coast, creating hazardous conditions on roadways and increasing the risk of power outages. Some areas could see over a quarter inch of ice buildup on trees, power lines, and sidewalks, making travel nearly impossible.
Cities at risk for major ice accumulation include Des Moines, Peoria, Chicago, Toledo, Philadelphia, and parts of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Virginia.
As Garnett moves offshore by the end of the weekend, meteorologists warn that more severe winter weather is on the way. A new storm originating in Texas is expected to hit early next week, bringing more snow and ice to the Midwest and Northeast.
With a “parade of storms” continuing into mid-February, residents in the eastern U.S. should prepare for more winter chaos in the days ahead.
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