Weather synopsis: December 29

At 8:37pm the temperature in the Bronx is 16°F (wind chill -1°F) under chrystal clear skies with gusty winds. Needless to say, today was a cold one to say the least as a cold front ushered in an arctic air mass. This front also whipped up the winds making air temperatures fell much colder. Winds have been reported between 50MPH and 65MPH all over the region. A wind gust of 53MPH has been reported in parts of NYC, in Suffolk county winds were reported up to 61MPH and a gust of 63MPH was reported in Nassau county. Winds should subside tonight but it will remain bitterly cold. Temperatures will be relatively warmer tomorrow but still rather chilly in the 30's. It wont feel nearly as cold as today did as winds should be light and variable. On New Years Eve a coastal storm will develop off the Delmarva peninsula south of Long Island. This Storm system will rapidly intensify as it churns up the North East coast. Latest NCEP forecast model data now indicate that this coastal storm will veer slightly east of my previous projected storm track. This will prove to be a tricky forecast indeed. This eastward jog could yield a snowier scenario for the greater NYC metropolitan area. It now looks as if the precipitation will likely start as a light snow possibly mixing with sleet and rain along the immediate coast around the 2pm hour. This light precipitation will likely subside around 9pm. Temperatures will likely hold steady and increase slightly near the midnight hour so any precipitation that fall at the time of the ball drop will be mostly in the liquid variety. Then as the storm deepens it will likely initiate a rain/snow mix in the early morning on Friday. If enough cold air wraps into the system we could have a period of light to moderate snow with rain and sleet mixing in from time to time on Friday. Across Long Island precipitation will like be mostly rain but here too, snow could be developing if it gets cold enough. By Saturday this storm system will experience an explosive strengthening phase just east of the New England coast as it meanders about over the Gulf of Maine. Parts of northern New England will experience monumental amounts of snow. Even Boston could potentially whind up with significant snow totals. We cant rule out the chance of seeing some snow as far south as NYC and Long Island on Saturday with this intense coastal storm. Only time will tell as to what events will transpire with this New Year storm. Though it is only a few days away, due to the dynamics of this coastal storm it is too early to make a precise forecast.