A May snowstorm is in the making, which could bring potentially historic snow totals to parts of the interior Northeast and New England.
On Friday, a storm system moving into the Northeast will clash with bitter cold arctic air courtesy of the polar vortex, and bring the potential for heavy, wet snow across the interior Northeast and New England. Meanwhile, heavy rain will be possible along the I-95 corridor.
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Widespread snowfall totals will range from a dusting to 3 inches, with locally higher amounts up to 6-8 inches. Some very isolated spots in extreme northern New England could see up to a foot of snow. If this happens, it will shatter May snowfall records. Some cities that could see snow include Syracuse, Rochester, Binghamton, Albany in New York, Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Burlington, Vermont.
In addition to the rain and snow, it will be very windy with gusts over 40 mph across the entire Northeast region and eastern seaboard. Snow, rain showers and gusty winds will continue for the Northeast and New England through Saturday.
About 45 million people are already under freeze watches and warnings from the Upper Midwest to Appalachians. These will likely expand in coverage and population.
The aforementioned cold air that will be responsible for the snow in the Northeast and New England will be record-shattering. More than 50 record lows could be set or tied after Saturday and Sunday. Highs and lows will be 10-20 degrees below average this weekend, with that cold air stretching all the way into the deep south.
By Saturday morning, 75 million people will wake up to temperatures below freezing. Wind chills in the Northeast will be in the 20s and 30s and for many cities, it will be colder on Saturday than it was on Christmas Day. Cities that could set record lows over the weekend include: New York, Nashville, Buffalo, New York, Baltimore, Detroit, Memphis, Pittsburgh, Charlotte, Little Rock, Arkansas, Montgomery, Alabama, and Shreveport, Louisiana.
The last time New York City dipped into the 30s in May was 1978 – 42 years ago.