snow storm

Weather forecast: N.J. snow storm could drop 3 to 6 inches

BY STEVEN DiMARTINO NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

High pressure will give the Philadelphia and new York City metropolitan areas a nice break through this evening, but more stormy weather conditions are on the way for tomorrow.

High pressure over the mid Mississippi Valley will build into the region through this evening providing scattered cloud cover, light winds, and temperatures below normal for this time of year. Temperatures will rebound from morning lows in the 30′s into the upper 40′s to lower 50′s for highs this afternoon.

Meanwhile, an area of low pressure over the western Gulf Coast will move towards the southern Mid Atlantic by tonight. this low pressure system will rapidly intensify off the new Jersey coast tomorrow producing a variety of weather conditions through the day and evening tomorrow. for all locations throughout the northern Mid Atlantic, strong winds can be expected from the northeast around 15 to 30 mph with wind gusts over 45 mph. for most locations below 500 feet in elevation including both the Philadelphia and new York City metropolitan areas, heavy rain can be expected with rainfall amounts of one to three inches. The rain may mix with snow at times, but no accumulation is expected. very poor visibility can be expected with the worst conditions between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. tomorrow. for the interior, the elevation will be extremely important in this forecast. for locations between 500 and 1,000 feet, rain will mix with and at times change over to snowfall with accumulations of one to three inches expected, mostly on grassy surfaces. for locations over 1,000 feet, snowfall amounts of three to six inches with locally higher amounts can be expected. this is a heavy wet snowfall that will lead to the threat for trees and power lines to be downed due to the combined weight of the snow and the leaves left on the trees. For more details, visit the Snow Map!

The storm will exit by tomorrow night with clearing skies by Sunday morning. High pressure will be in control from Sunday on through the middle of next week with tranquil weather conditions. however, temperatures will average well below normal with lows in the lower 30′s to lower 40′s and highs in the mid 40′s to upper 50′s.

Steven DiMartino is a meteorologist who owns NYNJPAWeather.com

How to Survive a Snow Storm

In continuation of our community Winter Awareness Month articles, I would like to present this short entry on surviving snow storms. The CDC has provided the American public with loads of data and publications which deal with surviving extreme cold conditions as usually found with winter snow storms. They have created several guides in order to promote ones personal health and safety. I highly recommend visiting them and selecting a few of these valuable documents to read in your spare time.

Enclose within the pages of their publication can be discovered hints on being prepared for the winter season, the necessary supplies to maintain in your home and several ideas on what you should wear during these cold months to maintain your healthy status. I would like at this time to highlight a few items which I consider important and vital for ones health.

The first thing to keep in mind is to be properly prepared. The best time to make provisions for this is prior to the arrival of the predicted snow storm. You will find it very difficult to obtain alternative heating sources in the event of a power outage after the storm has arrived at your area. Stores and shops will simply be completely sold out of most vital supplies by that time. one thing most people often forget is to keep a couple of fire extinguishers handy when using these alternative heating sources. Fires can spread quickly and your first reactions could serve to prevent serious and costly circumstances.

Maintain extra blankets in your home, a wind up flashlight and radio, candles and matches, first aid kits, a manual can opener and for your outdoors use keep a snow shovel and salt readily on hand. if you have a toddler or a baby in the family get extra diapers to keep in the home. You may not be able to get to the store to purchase these items once the crisis has struck your area. It goes without saying that you should keep several days’ supply of food, water, and necessary medications on hand. Foods selected should be those which are easy to prepare and does not need to be cooked or refrigerated.

During the winter season always watch your thermostat to keep track of your homes temperature. The elderly and infants are particularly sensitive to cold spells and must be considered appropriately. if some reason you have lost power to your home and have no emergency heater you should seriously consider staying at a friends or family members home until power is restored.

It is always best in the winter months to dress in several layers of clothing so that your body heat can be properly maintained. You can always remove clothing if you happen to get too warm. Keeping adequate blankets in your home can also help to conserve body heat.

There you have our second article for our Winter Awareness Month. I hope you find the enclosed information useful and of value in the coming cold months.

Copyright @2010 Joseph Parish
survival-training.info

Rare October Snowstorm Pelts US Northeast

Heavy snow was falling across parts of Pennsylvania on Saturday where thousands of households were already without power from a rare October snowstorm racing up the East Coast.

Snow was coming down from central Pennsylvania up into southeastern new York and Connecticut after blanketing parts of Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland earlier in the day.

Airport delays were reported at Philadelphia Airport and at new York area airports. At John F Kennedy Airport some arriving flights were delayed more than four hours.

In Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia, more than 63,000 customers were without power, according to Allegheny Power. At least 30,000 additional customers were without power in Pennsylvania and new Jersey based on Penelec reports.

The snow threatened posed traffic problems for some 100,000 college football fans trying to attend the game on Saturday afternoon between Penn State and the University of Illinois in State College, Pennsylvania.

The university warned fans not to park on grassy areas and to avoid pitching tents or driving large campers that might get stuck at the football stadium.

“It’s a strong storm for October,” said AccuWeather senior meteorologist Paul Walker.

“we don’t usually see storms this deep and this strong,” he said, adding it was unusual to get accumulating snow this month.

The rare early season snowstorm was expected to unleash heavy, wet snow and wind across much of the Northeast on Saturday with some areas bracing for up to a foot of snow and major power outages.

For some, the big flakes and accumulation caused excitement, instead of headaches.

“There’s almost like an electric buzz when the first snow falls,” said Anna Weltz, communication director for seven Springs Mountain Resort, located about 60 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.

“And it’s still coming down,” said Weltz. “what a sight.”

The storm was moving northeast, starting as rain and changing to snow as temperatures dropped, and was expected to hit hardest areas west and northwest of the I-95 highway corridor, Walker said.

While October snow is not unprecedented, this storm could be record-setting in terms of snow totals.

Hartford, Connecticut, Allentown, Pennsylvania, and Worcester, Massachusetts were among the cities that could be blanketed with up to a foot of snow, forecasters said.

Allentown, for example, typically sees its first measurable snow around December 5.

Boston will generally see its first measurable snow around the end of November, while new York City and Philadelphia measure their first flakes, on average, mid-December.

The major coastal cities are not likely to be spared from this October nor’easter, meteorologists predicted.

New York City was bracing for up to four inches of snow, tapering off Saturday night.

In Boston, the forecast called for a windy afternoon rain to turn to snow overnight, bringing up to three inches of white stuff, it said.

Wind gusts along the coast could reach 45 miles per hour, it said, adding to the tree limbs and power lines already expected to be down from the heavy, wet snow.

Fall Storm: October Nor’easter Blamed for at Least Three Deaths

By BEN FORER, LEEZEL TANGLAO and DEAN SCHABNER Oct. 29, 2011

A strong storm system moving up the East Coast has already dumped more than two feet of snow in some parts of New England today, leaving more than 2 million homes and businesses without power and causing at least three deaths.

The storm dumped record amounts of snow from New Jersey through New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts. The governors of New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts all declared states of emergency.

An 84-year-old man in Pennsylvania died this afternoon when a tree weighed down by snow fell on his home.

In Colchester, Conn., one person died in a traffic accident blamed on the snow, Gov. Dannel Malloy said.

A 20-year-old man in Springfield, Mass., was electrocuted by a downed power line he stepped on after getting out of his car.

Parts of the Berkshires in western Massachusetts had more than two feet of snow by this evening, with total accumulation expected to pile up more than 30 inches.

Newark-Liberty Airport had 3.8 inches by this evening, surpassing the previous high total for an October day of 0.3 inches on Oct. 20, 1952.

While coastal areas were soaked with frigid mixes of rain and snow, inland areas snow pile up as though it were midwinter.

Parts of West Virginia also reported as much as three or four inches of snow accumulation.

“Kind of unbelievable that we’ve already gotten snow this year,” Berkley, W.Va. resident Tyler Easterday said.

A state of emergency was declared in New Jersey, where Gov. Chris Christie said the heavy snow left approximately 600,000 homes and businesses without power.

“We expect the number is going to continue to go up before it goes back down,” Christie said. “The problem is that there are trees just down everywhere because of the snow, the wet, heavy snow.”

Approximately 125,000 customers were without power in Pennsylvania this evening, according to First Energy spokesman Scott Surgeoner said.

“We have about six to eight inches where I live right now and it’s the first time I can remember an October snow storm,” he said. “Normally when you do get into winter, the leaves have left the trees or they’re shed by the trees, that’s not the case this time and that’s what’s causing most of our problems, if not all our problems.”

There were more than 265,000 customers without power in New York State, more than 530,00 without power in Connecticut, more than 367,000 in the dark in Pennsylvania, more than 226,000 in Massachusetts and 61,000 in New Hampshire.

In Brookline, Mass., the inclement weather was too much for some high school students in a soccer game. Police Sgt. Bobby Murphy said five of the players were taken to a hospital, suffering from hypothermia.

The rare October Nor’easter hit at least 10 states from North Carolina to Maine.

Flights Delays and Power Out

The winter-like weather created delays for air transportation throughout the northeast.

Newark International Airport in New Jersey reported an average of six-hour delays late today and Philadelphia International Airport travelers could expect delays of up to three hours.

ABC News’ Max Golembo, ABC News Radio and The Associated Press contributed to this report.