Wednesday, January 12, 2011

East Coast Storm

Heavy snow continues across southern New England
this morning including Boston (above).


2pm UPDATE: Low pressure in eastern Massachusetts continues to send snow back west across Vermont and eastern New York and up to the US/Quebec border. Early this afternoon Burlington was put under the Winter Storm Warning with 15-25cm forecast. Winds are gusting to 50km/h producing extensive blowing and drifting snow. At 2pm heavy snow is falling in Burlington with visibilities down to a 1/4 mile and 3 inches in the last 2 hours. Winter weather advisories were extended to the Canadian border. With the exception of a few flurries in Montreal, the snow has stopped at the border...so far.

8:30am Update:
The snow is just south of the border with a slight change to the forecast at this point. Look for light snow south of the St. Lawrence River with about 2cm up to 5cm at the US border.

A major winter storm continues to deepen this morning just east of Long Island, New York. Overnight steady snow fell along the coast and west across New York State and into Eastern and southern Ontario. Nearly 9 inches fell on NYC, but the precipitation has ended there. The heaviest snow at his hour is failing from central Connecticut northeast into Boston and up the coast into Maine. The western extent of the snow is now into northern New York and just touching the 401 between Kingston and Brockville. The snow will continue today before tapering off tonight as the storm moves into the Maratimes. Warnings are also posted for Nova Scotia and extreme southern new Brunswick for 15-25cm of snow (6-10 inches)

A biting northeast wind is blowing in Montreal with overcast skies and flurries. The temperature is a cold -7C with wind chills in the minus teens. I will watch the radar this morning to see just how far north the heavier snow moves but at this point it is expected to stay south of the city.

Such is not the case in southern New England and Long Island. The heavy snow is falling at the rate of 5-10cm and hour (2-4 inches) with winds gusting over 30mph and thunder and lightning reported. Winter storm warnings are up for the entire region with blizzard warnings along the coast including Boston and Cape Cod where 10-20 inches of snow is forecast. Needless to say air travel has been brought to a halt in those cities. If you are traveling anywhere south of Montreal or into Ontario by ground, be prepared for snow covered roads and blowing snow.

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