Weather synopsis: Saturday December 25

Merry Christmas!
12:50pm the National Weather Service has issued a slew of winter storm watches and warnings up and down the Atlantic coast in anticipation of a Nor'easter that is expected to impact the region with strong winds and significant snowfall. The combination of heavy snow along with strong gusty winds will produce blizzard conditions for many areas including Long Island and eastern New England; I expect blizzard conditions to impact New York City and coastal New Jersey as well. A low pressure system over the Gulf of Mexico states will move east towards the Atlantic coast this evening. This low pressure system will strengthen off the coast of the Carolinas and then stream northward parallel to the east coast. With cold air already in place, the moisture associated with this storm system will produce a swath of heavy snow from the Carolinas to Maine. I expect this storm system to further intensify on its track up the coast; this will whip-up the winds right along the coast producing white out conditions and a bonafied blizzard for many. Snow will develop in New York City and Long Island from around noon time through early afternoon on Sunday. The snow will get steady and heavy during the late evening with the heaviest precipitation arriving during the overnight and lasting through the early morning hours on Monday. It is during this time frame when I expect the blizzard to be in full force for the New York City metropolitan area as winds will gust up and over 50 miles per hour. Snowfall totals will range between 8 inches to 1 foot from the Jersey shore to Long Island with many locations receiving well over 1 foot of snow. Snow will continue to fly through Monday morning before ending from southwest to the northeast as this storm system moves away from the region on Monday afternoon and evening. This Nor'easter will have a major impact on travel plans especially for area Airports as visibilities will go down to 1/4 mile or less for a good period of time. Many airlines have already canceled flight in anticipation of the snow that could pose a threat of icing. Road conditions will deteriorate rather quickly once the heavy snow and strong winds begin to impact the region on Sunday evening.