Millions of Americans Bracing for Potential ‘Major’ Nor'easter Storm

A map from the National Weather Service dated March 12, 2023, shows possible impacts from a storm system that is set to impact the Northeast United States on March 13 through March 15. (NWS)

Tens of millions of people are bracing for a “rapidly strengthening” and “major” Nor'easter storm that is slated to bring heavy snow to the Northeastern United States, according to weather forecasters.

Winter storm advisories have been issued by National Weather Service (NWS) branches for much of New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Maine. Small portions of New Jersey and Pennsylvania have also received advisories, according to a map posted Sunday by the federal weather agency.

At around 4 p.m. ET, the agency issued winter storm warnings for areas in New York, Vermont, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.

“This system will reach the Mid-Atlantic coast Monday night, leading to a rapidly strengthening coastal low pressure,” said an NWS bulletin Sunday. “Confidence is increasing that a ”major Nor'easter will affect parts” of the region on Monday evening stretching to Wednesday.

It warned that heavy snow rates of up to 2 inches per hour are possible, while strong winds from the storm will “produce dangerous to near-impossible travel,” adding that “scattered to widespread power outages” and damage to trees is possible. Some interior parts of the Northeast United States will get more than 12 inches of snow from this system, including “higher snowfall amounts” in the Catskill Mountains in New York, mountains in western Massachusetts, and the Green Mountains of Vermont.

“Widespread minor coastal flooding may be possible Monday Night through Wednesday as the low pressure deepens off the coast of New England,” the NWS added. “As the precipitation moves into the Central Appalachians, pockets of rain-freezing rain will develop on Sunday. The combination of snow and ice may cause hazardous road conditions over parts of the Central Appalachians.”

Forecasters with AccuWeather said that the storm system could turn into a “bomb cyclone,” which means a storm system that drops 24 millibars of pressure within 24 hours.

“Widespread power outages will be possible from far southeastern Connecticut to the Massachusetts Cape on northward across the entire coast of Maine,” AccuWeather forecasters said. “Inland parts of the Northeast U.S. will also face a risk of localized and regional power outages. However, with ‘drier’ snow expected to fall in this region, this risk gradually declines from western Pennsylvania to western New York.”

AccuWeather also warned that high winds and heavy snowfall could lead to blizzard conditions in some areas, namely in New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts. The strongest wind gusts will likely occur in the coastal areas of Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine, and Massachusetts—ranging as high as 60 to 70 mph in some areas.

“Locations forecast to see wind gusts upwards of 50 mph with this storm will be at risk for substantial airline delays and cancellations. Transportation hubs such as Boston and New York City could face challenging weather conditions, and travelers are urged to call ahead to check on the status of their flights,” the forecaster said.

From Tuesday into Wednesday morning, the rest of the Northeast United States could see gusts of at least 40 mph, according to the Weather Channel.