Weather synopsis: Monday January 10

8:41pm a classic Nor'Easter is in the making with its eyes targeting the region once again. There are several atmospheric factors in play working to produce this storm which has yet to develop. Once the gears set in to motion, this system will likely have an impact over the entire Northeast. First, we have been under a cold spell since the beginning of the year; this will be the primary ingredient for a winter storm as this cold air mass will support frozen precipitation through out the duration of this event. There have been two storm systems traversing the nation, one over the northern Great Plains and the other over the Southeast. These two systems are producing snow and ice over a large area of the country as they progress eastward. The storm over the Southeast will transfer its energy off shore and redevelop in to a coastal storm off the Southeast coast. This coastal low will then shoot up the eastern seaboard and simultaneously, the storm system over the Great Plains will move across into the Northeast; the way in which these two storm system interact and eventually phase off the Northeastern seaboard will determine the formation of this Nor'Easter and it will dictate the impact that will be felt across the region. Here is my forecast: Snow will begin to fall Tuesday afternoon in Buffalo and later Tuesday evening in New York City/ Long Island. Light to moderate snow will fall through the night away from the coast. Snow will become steady and heavy overnight along the coast as our two storm systems phase and become one greater coastal low pressure system between 2:00am and 8:00am; it is within this time period is where I think the worst of the storm will affect New York City and Long Island. Snowfall rates of 1-2 inches per hour will be likely in the Tristate area. The snow intensity will begin to diminish after 8:00am with snow showers lingering through the noon hour before ending after noon. In terms of snow accumulations, the majority of Northeast will have a general snowfall between 3-6 inches including the city of Buffalo. Snow accumulations will tend to be greatest as you approach the coast. In the five boroughs and Long Island I'm calling for 6 to 12 inches with locally higher amounts. The greatest amounts of snow will be out over eastern Long Island where the majority of the moisture associated with this system will be confined, I expect snow totals over 1 foot in localized areas. White out conditions are also expected within the 1-2 inch per hour snow bands. Along with heavy snow, winds will be gusty as this storm system deepens off the coast of New England. Keep in mind that any deviation in the storms forecast track and intensity could mean a more significant storm for the New Jersey, New York and Connecticut corridor.