Nor’easter Set to Hit East Coast with Snow and Winds This Weekend

A nor'easter is taking shape in the Atlantic off the Carolinas and will move north this weekend, bringing heavy snow, strong winds, and large waves to much of the East Coast. The storm starts Friday with snow in parts of Tennessee and Kentucky, then hits hardest Saturday from Georgia to Maryland, and could continue into Sunday depending on its path.

Background

The East Coast is still cleaning up from a big snowstorm that hit last weekend. That one brought deep snow and ice across thousands of miles, leaving roads messy and power out in spots. Now, just days later, another system is brewing. It starts as a low-pressure area in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, pulling in warm, moist air from the south. Cold air already sits over the region from the recent chill, setting up a clash that feeds the storm.

Weather models show energy from the Midwest joining a disturbance in the Gulf around Thursday. By Friday night, this merges into a stronger low off the Southeast coast. The jet stream, that high-altitude river of air, dips south over the U.S., steering the storm along the shore. This setup often leads to nor'easters, storms that spin up just offshore and pound the coast with snow and wind.

Forecasters note this one has bomb cyclone potential. That means it could drop 24 millibars in pressure in 24 hours, a sign of rapid strengthening. Past bombs like this have buried cities in snow and whipped up hurricane-force gusts. The polar vortex, a big pool of cold air over the Arctic, keeps sending chills south, with no quick end in sight through February.

Key Details

Timeline and Areas Affected

Friday afternoon into night, light snow falls in Tennessee and Kentucky as the low develops. Saturday morning, snow spreads into the Carolinas, starting as rain near the Outer Banks but turning to heavy snow as cold air pushes in. Expect bands of intense snow around Raleigh and Charlotte by midday.

From Georgia to Maryland, including Atlanta to Baltimore, heavy snow is likely Saturday. Airports like Charlotte Douglas in North Carolina face big delays or shutdowns. Strong winds hit Alabama, Georgia, and northern Florida, with gusts that could snap tree limbs or down power lines.

Sunday brings the big question: where does the storm go? One path sends it out to sea, limiting snow but bringing gusty winds and rough surf along the coast. The other keeps it close, slamming the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast with snow through Monday morning. Coastal spots from Virginia to Massachusetts could see the worst if it hugs the shore.

Snow and Wind Forecasts

Snow amounts are still coming into focus, but models point to 6 to 12 inches in the Carolinas and Mid-Atlantic, with 12 to 18 inches or more possible inland and farther north. The Euro model shows a deep low of 968 millibars pivoting up the coast, a recipe for blizzard conditions where snow falls at 2 to 3 inches per hour with winds over 35 mph.

Winds ramp up to 50-70 mph along the coast, higher in squalls. Waves build to 15-20 feet offshore, causing beach erosion and possible flooding at high tide. Even if snow stays light near I-95 cities, winds alone could make travel impossible.

"This is one big bomb. Look at how it just pivots up the coast here." – MeteoMark, weather forecaster

The GFS and Euro models agree on the Gulf low exploding Saturday, but differ on the exact track. Confidence is highest for impacts in the Carolinas, with growing odds for Northeast snow.

What This Means

Millions from Florida to Maine need to prepare for power outages, as wet snow and wind take down lines. Roads like I-95 will snarl with accidents and plows. Schools and events shut down Saturday into Sunday. Airlines warn of cancellations, especially at hubs like Charlotte, Atlanta, and Dulles.

Coastal towns face overwash from big waves, with dunes taking hits. Fishermen and boaters stay in port. Farmers worry about livestock in the cold snap following the storm, as temps drop into the teens and single digits.

If the storm bombs and tracks near the 40/70 benchmark southeast of Nantucket, D.C., Philly, and New York see major snow along the corridor. A closer path means rain near the cities but heavy snow inland. An offshore turn spares most snow but still brings wind and surf hazards.

Cold lingers after, with the polar vortex pattern locked in. Another wave of Arctic air follows next week, keeping shovels busy. Emergency managers stock salt and sand, urging folks to gas up cars and charge phones now. This back-to-back hit tests recovery efforts from last week's storm, stretching resources thin.