Nor’easter continues to slam I-95 corridor with heavy rain, wind as season's first snow falls in the North

THE TAKEAWAY

• A nor’easter lashes the Northeast with rain, gusty winds and potentially more travel delays to the Interstate 95 corridor Friday.
• Storms produced a tornado in Delaware, triggered flash flooding in the New York City metro area and dropped a foot of snow in some parts of Upstate New York.
• Accumulating snow favors higher elevations of upstate New York and New England, with little accumulation expected in valleys and none in major I-95 cities.
• Colder air behind the storm fuels lake-effect snow into the weekend, with heavier totals possible in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and northern Indiana.

A strengthening nor’easter is lashing the region with more heavy rain and gusty winds, slowing the Friday morning commute across the Interstate 95 corridor in the Northeast. Meanwhile, higher elevations in Upstate New York and northern New England will see even more snow as more cold air spills south from Canada.

TORRENTIAL RAIN, DANGEROUS WAVES BATTER PACIFIC NORTHWEST AS POWERFUL STORMS PUSH ASHORE

The storm is forecast to track off the coast near Cape Cod through the day Friday, with falling pressure helping winds increase as the storm develops.

Along the Interstate 95 corridor, including New York City, periods of heavier rain and gusty winds could contribute to another round of airport delays.

The nor’easter follows a round of severe storms Thursday that generated nearly 50 storm reports, including several confirmed tornadoes, from Delaware to New York, including reports of tornadoes in Delaware and New Jersey. 

THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF EL NIÑO: WHAT DOES IT MEAN AND HOW DOES IT IMPACT THE WORLD'S ECONOMY?

Storms triggered flash flooding in New York City, particularly in residential neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens.

Severe thunderstorms prompted a Tornado Warning near New York City’s JFK International Airport, where 3.32 inches of rain made it the second-wettest November day on record.

Severe weather prompted ground stops at JFK, LaGuardia, Newark Liberty International and Boston Logan International airports, delaying hundreds of flights.

Places in Central New York, between the Adirondack and Catskill mountains, saw more than a foot of snow fall Thursday, with Hartwick, New York, which is just south of Cooperstown, tallying 12.5 inches of snow.

A Fall taste of Winter weather

The heaviest snow is expected to fall Friday afternoon into Saturday morning across upstate New York and into southern Vermont and New Hampshire. 

WHAT IS A NOR'EASTER?

Temperatures hovering near freezing could initially limit accumulation, with the best opportunity for snow to pile up arriving Friday afternoon and evening as colder air moves in.

Much of the Adirondacks, Green Mountains and White Mountains could receive 1–3 inches of snow. Similar totals are expected across the Catskills, with 3–5 inches possible in higher terrain. 

Valley communities, including Albany, Binghamton and Burlington, are expected to see lighter accumulations.

The storm’s track will help determine how much snow falls. A path closer to the coast could keep moisture over the region longer and boost totals, while a track farther offshore would bring snow to an earlier end.

New York City is expected to begin drying out late Friday, while rain continues into the evening around Boston, where winds could gust 20–30 mph. 

A few flakes could mix in near Boston as the storm departs, but no accumulation is expected.

By Saturday morning, most precipitation will have ended as the storm moves toward the Canadian Maritimes. Lingering snow showers could continue across portions of Maine, upstate New York and the Appalachians as cold northwest winds follow the departing system.

WHEN IS THE EARLIEST SNOWFALL ON RECORD FOR PARTS OF THE NORTHEAST?

Lake-effect snow activated

As the nor’easter pulls away, cold air sweeping across the relatively warm Great Lakes will trigger rounds of lake-effect rain and snow Friday into the start of the weekend. 

Temperatures near freezing will favor a mix of cold rain and wet snow, with accumulations varying by elevation and where the most persistent bands develop.

The higher terrain of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is favored for the heaviest snowfall, with northwest winds off Lake Superior potentially producing more than 6 inches in some areas. A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect for Marquette through Friday.

Farther south, a band of lake-effect precipitation off Lake Michigan could bring 1–3 inches of snow to South Bend, Indiana, while totals could exceed 5 inches near Valparaiso if the band remains focused there. 

Some slushy accumulation is also possible in Chicago’s southern suburbs.

Along western Michigan, bands moving inland from Lake Michigan could produce 1–3 inches of snow, with locally higher amounts possible beneath persistent bands, including north of Grand Rapids.