Winter Storm Forecast: Nor’easter to Bring Heavy Snow and Coastal Flooding

Heavy snowfall will spread over parts of the Northeast starting late Monday and into Tuesday, with some areas expected to get up to two inches of snow an hour, National Weather Service forecasters said.

This is not a long lasting storm; the snow will come down quickly and in some cases pile up to a foot or more.

Even Central Park, which hasn’t been coated in a half a foot of snow or more since Jan. 29, 2022, could see the return of sledding, snowballs and snowmen by Tuesday afternoon.

Here are key things to know about the storm.

• Snow is looking more likely for New York City, with the possibility of over six inches. It will start as rain in the city and will most likely transition to snow around the morning commute Tuesday.

• There remains some uncertainty around when, exactly, the precipitation will change from rain to snow in the New York metro area, which would affect eventual snow totals.

• The band of heaviest snow will fall from northern New Jersey to southern New England. Cities like Boston are likely to receive a foot of snow or more.

• Schools are announcing closures ahead of Tuesday’s storm. Boston Public Schools will be closed, according to the district’s website, and New York City Public Schools also announced that classes would be held remotely.

Snow is likely from the Mid-Atlantic through New England.

In its latest forecasts early Monday, the Weather Service said its forecasters were confident that Connecticut and the Lower Hudson Valley would see at least six inches of snow.

The heaviest snow will fall in northern Pennsylvania and southern New York before tracking into southern New England on Tuesday, the Weather Service said. As much as a foot of snow is expected in those areas, particularly in the Catskills of New York and the Berkshires in Massachusetts, forecasters said.

A winter storm watch was in effect for Long Island, New York City and part of northeast New Jersey, meaning there is potential for heavy snow.

Strong winds and coastal flooding will also accompany the storm. Coastal flooding is anticipated for the Jersey Shore and Long Island, according to the Weather Service.

A winter storm warning was posted from Pennsylvania to coastal Massachusetts, where winds could gust up to 35 to 40 miles per hour and snow accumulation could reach up to 10 maybe even 13 inches. The storm warning is in effect until 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

Interior sections of northeastern New Jersey, the lower Hudson Valley and southern Connecticut can expect heavy wet snow with accumulations of up to 12 inches, with locally higher amounts, especially north of I-84, late on Monday night, the Weather Service said.

Forecasters warned that powerful winds and heavy snow could damage trees and power lines.

Five to eight inches of snow were expected in the New York City metro area and Long Island. That may result in difficult travel, especially during the Tuesday morning commute, forecasters warned.

The New York State Department of Transportation said it was monitoring weather conditions and was prepared to respond with an array of heavy equipment, including 1,544 large plow trucks and 36 snow blowers.

However, other areas had slightly different preparations in mind.

Dean Ryder, owner of Thunder Ridge Ski Area in Putnam County in New York, said he was getting ready for a potential influx of customers. He said the ski area could double its attendance after a big snowstorm.

Thunder Ridge hosts classes that regularly attracts skiers, but those are “nothing compared to a snowstorm,” when it comes to drumming up business, he said. “It’s just something about seeing it outside your window.”

Judson Jones contributed reporting.