Northeast Snowtober?

Rumors of snow are running rampant over the Northeastern US. Its hard to believe that accumulating snow can fall in the month of October in the Northeast but that is what is in the forecast. A dynamic weather pattern that is more typical for December is taking precedence beginning with the passage of a cold front that is ushering in a much colder air mass. This is changing rain to snow across interior sections of the Northeast on Thursday October 27th. Snow accumulations on the order of around 3 inches can be expected over northern Pennsylvania, central New York State and into central New England with greater amounts over the higher elevations. Rain is expected elsewhere in the Northeast during this time. This first system moves out by Friday October 28th leaving behind a dense cold air mass over the region. This will set the stage for a secondary storm scenario on Saturday that could produce a heavy wet accumulating snow over the megalopolis along the I-95 corridor of the Northeast.

A storm system responsible for dumping over 6 inches of wet snow in Denver will race eastward along the polar Jet stream. This storm is forecast to rapidly intensify off the Midatlantic coast on Saturday. With cold air already in place this could set the stage for an early snow storm on Saturday night from Washington DC to Boston. Details of the exact track of this potential storm are rather uncertain at this point, but I think there will be rain to start. Then as this system strengthens enough cold air will be dragged in to change the precipitation to a heavy wet snow all the way down to the coast. With the convection anticipated with this storm system, thunder and lightning will also accompany the precipitation. The potential for up to 6 inches of snow for New York City and western Long Island is not out of the question. If this transpires, expect widespread power outages as most trees are still wearing their leaves, when you add this heavy wet snow and 40 miles per hour wind gusts these trees will come down knocking out power for many residents.