Major Winter Storm underway across the Northeast...

Powerful Low pressure beginning to lift north from the Southeast U.S. will bring significant winter weather thru much of the interior Northeast today and Friday. Precip type will stay mainly rain along and east of I-81 from Maryland up to I-78 in the lower Susq. Valley of PA, and northward along and east of I-95 to Boston. Ice will be a problem into the southern Poconos east-northeast into the southern Catskills on over into southwestern New England, where up to 1" of ice...locally higher amounts can be found, especially in the higher terrain. Widespread power outages likely in the southern Catskills and interior central New England.

Regarding snowfall potential...
After much deliberation... We have come to a solution as far as snowfall is concerned that we believe is most reasonable at the present time. That said, there are a few problematic areas that may need further adjusting that unfortunately may not be fully resolved until storm is on doorstep or occurring due to complexity of the situation.

First area is across central PA associated more with tonights evolution. Although mid and upper air temps look marginal for mostly snow, we believe there is enough potential for advisory level snowfall across the Laurel Ridge increasing to as much as 6-8" across the mountains of the central northern Tier along the NY border.

Second area is across northern NY with regard to how far significant precip can advance to north and west, as here anything that falls will likely be all snow and a significant amount. ATTM, we decided against bringing higher totals to the southern Adirondacks but will keep a close eye on this, but potential for some areas to see 12" looks possible. Across the mountains of northern New England, we think this area is prime for the heaviest snows, especially across extreme western Maine. Great snow ratios and expected minimal sleet incursion should yield a heavy blanket on the folks in this region. That said, if more mixing occurs than previously expected, snow amounts will need to be lowered accordingly.

Last item is how far east do backside snows accumulate. We think best shot to see any accumulation will be along and west of I-81 south of Mason/Dixon and up to I-78. From there we think accumulations stay west of I-95 up into New England...despite an expected changeover to snow showers/flurries all the way to the coast.

...MAG/LTE