An early spring storm is expected to bring heavy snow to the interior of the northeast, especially in New York, Monday through Tuesday, increasing the potential for downed trees, power outages and difficult travel, forecasters said.
In New York State, which is expected to bear the brunt of the storm, up to six inches of snow is possible in some northern counties, according to the National Weather Service.
A mixture of rain and snow is expected to spread to much of Central New York and Northeastern Pennsylvania on Monday night and turn into snow in many areas before declining on Tuesday morning, forecasters said.
The weather forecast center said on Twitter on Sunday night that snowfall of more than 4 inches was probably over 2,000 feet in New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont and New Hampshire. These areas include the Adirondack, Catskill, Poconos, Green and White Mountain chains.
The highest ranges could reach more than 10 inches, with some snow levels exceeding one inch per hour, the center said.
“Dangerous travel conditions can arise due to rainy, snow-covered roads,” the center said.
Lily Chapman, a meteorologist with the Binghamton, New York Meteorological Service, said Sunday that one of the biggest concerns is that the storm is expected to bring heavy, wet snow.
“These are things that can knock down trees because they weigh so much,” Ms. Chapman said. “So you’re going to look at your risk of a power outage, and it’s also a little harder to clear.”
The Meteorological Service has issued a winter storm clock – indicating that the conditions are favorable for a winter storm – for northern Wayne County, Pennsylvania, and Chenango, Delaware, Madison, Oneida, Otsego and Sullivan counties in New York. The watch says that snow can make the journey “very difficult” and that people in the watch area need to be prepared for power outages.
“Ultimately, we’re looking at the potential for quite an impactful time,” Ms. Chapman said.
Although the exact amount of snow was unclear, Josh Weiss, a meteorologist at the Weather Forecasting Center, said the storm was unlikely to cause record snowfall in places like Delaware and Sullivan, Catskills and Otsego County in Central New York.
“I don’t think the sums are too significant for an event in April,” Mr Weiss said. “We usually get snowfall at the end of the season, so I don’t think that’s out of the ordinary.”
As the storm moves east on Monday, the effects are not expected to be as significant as in New York.
In Central Massachusetts, the storm is expected to cause massive rain and wet snow late Monday night and Tuesday, said Alan Dunham, a meteorologist with the Boston Meteorological Service.
“It’s not going to be a winter storm for us,” Mr Dunham said, referring to those in the Boston area.
The storm is unlikely to significantly affect runners in the Boston Marathon on Monday. They can expect partly cloudy skies with maximum values until the 50s, before the rain passes in the area after about 21 hours, according to the meteorological service in Boston.
Ms. Chapman said it was not uncommon to experience a snowstorm in April, but added that those in the northeast may not have an appetite for snow in the spring.
“After having such a good time, I think maybe people are probably not in the mood at the moment for this or are ready to deal with it,” Ms. Chapman said. “Just be prepared that you may have to shovel and possibly for a careless trip to work.”
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