Overview
- Forecasters say a coastal low is likely to form late Thursday and affect the region into Friday while the system remains in development.
- Models diverge on the storm track with the GFS favoring a more inland path that would keep most areas rainy and the ECMWF taking the low farther offshore which would strengthen classic nor'easter dynamics.
- Major I-95 cities including Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York and Boston are expected to see mostly rain with little chance of measurable accumulation in urban areas.
- Higher elevations in northern and western New England and parts of the central Appalachians have the best chance for spotty accumulating snow from light coatings to a few inches.
- The departing storm should pull cold Canadian air south and bring a sharp weekend chill that could produce hard overnight freezes and lingering travel impacts on Saturday and beyond.