Powerful nor’easter forecast to track along the East Coast

A powerful nor'easter is forecast to track along the US East Coast bringing strong, gusty winds and heavy snow Monday evening through Tuesday, March 13 and 14, 2017. Very cold temperatures are expected, possibly record breaking. The storm has been named Stella.

Strong winds gusting 64 to 80 km/h (40 -50 mph) may cause blizzard conditions along portions of coastal New England. Around 152 mm (6 inches) of snow with some areas receiving up to 1.8 m (1 foot) will be possible. However, any changes in the track could significantly impact snow amounts.

Very cold temperatures are expected (5.5 – 11 °C / 10 – 20 °F below normal reading with some areas 11 – 16.6 °C / 20 – 30 °F below normal). Record lows are possible in some areas. Temperatures should moderate by next weekend but only back to near normal, NWS Feather Prediction Center said.

Winter Storm Stella could bring the season's biggest snowfall to parts of the Interstate 95 corridor, The Weather Channel said. It will also deliver a swath of snow to the Midwest through Monday.

A large area of the Midwest from the Dakotas to Lower Michigan is under winter weather advisories and winter storm warnings. Travel will be impacted by light to moderate snow as jet stream energy and a weak area of low pressure move through the region Sunday – Monday.

Then, a strong area of low pressure will develop off the East Coast late Monday in response to the jet stream energy, bringing a nor'easter with heavy snow and strong winds to the Northeast.

A blizzard watch has been issued from New York City and Long Island to southern Connecticut, southern Rhode Island and portions of southeastern Massachusetts including Boston. Winter storm watches have also been issued across other parts of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, including Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

Featured image credit: GFS/TropicalTidbits.com