A powerful winter storm is expected to deliver the first blizzard to the Tri-State area in almost a decade from Sunday afternoon through Monday morning, with heavy snow, strong winds and dangerous travel likely.

The storm could cripple transportation across the region, with 12 to 18 inches expected across a wide swath and up to 2 feet in areas where heavier snow bands form. Coastal areas in New Jersey and Long Island are particularly vulnerable.

Wind gusts topping 50 mph Sunday night into Monday morning could bring down trees and power lines, compounded by the heavy snow, making travel extremely dangerous or even impossible. Power outages and coastal flooding – up to 2.5 to 3 feet during high tides are also concerns, and a Coastal Flood Warning has already been issued.

The storm is poised to be the biggest snow-maker to slam the Tri-State area since the storm of January 2016, which was the biggest snowstorm to ever hit NYC on record. The last time we faced a blizzard warning was in March 2017, so this is a rare event. The storm involves the convergence of energy from the Ohio Valley colliding with Gulf and ocean moisture to produce a storm that almost resembles a winter hurricane.

Blizzard Conditions Possible Sunday Night into Monday
The worst of the storm arrives late Sunday afternoon and lasts through sunrise Monday. Snowfall rates could reach 2-3 inches per hour, with strong winds creating whiteout conditions – especially along the coast. The storm’s central pressure off the coast will rival that of a category 2 or 3 hurricane. This strengthening will collapse in colder air and change all precipitation to heavy snow.

Blizzard Warnings are in effect for:
Long Island
All five boroughs
Westchester and Rockland counties
Coastal Connecticut
Much of New Jersey

A Blizzard Warning means winds or gusts will hit or exceed 35 mph along with blowing snow, with visibility knocked down to 1/4 mile or less for three hours or more.

Winter Storm Warnings cover the rest of the region.

By the time the storm pulls away Monday, much of the area is expected to see 12-18 inches of snow, with locally higher totals over a foot likely across the East End and parts of the Jersey Shore. Some areas could see over 20 inches east and south of New York in heavy bands where to 2 to 3 inches of snow fall for 6 to 8 hours.

FOX FORECAST CENTER SNOW TOTALS
Boston 18-24″
NYC 18-24″
Jersey Shore 2ft+
Philly 18-24″
Baltimore 8-12″
DC 5-18″