Major Northeast Snowstorm Is No April Fools' Day Joke

As the calendar changes from March to April, the Northeast will be hit with a winter storm beginning tonight that would be impressive even in the heart of winter.

The result will be heavy snow and potential travel delays, downed tree limbs and power outages over a large portion of New England and upstate New York from tonight through Friday, April Fools' Day. The accumulating snow will extend southward into the mid-Atlantic region.

Toby Talbot, AP

Dave Jacobs tries to shovel out his car earlier this month in Montpelier, Vt.

The heaviest snow will occur from the higher elevations of northeastern Pennsylvania and northwestern New Jersey northward into interior New England, with accumulations of greater than 8 inches in many locations. In the Catskills and Adirondacks of New York, as well as the mountains of Vermont and New Hampshire, amounts will be higher -- locally exceeding a foot.

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Travel will be slowed, especially at night, when the snow will accumulate more effectively on paved surfaces. But the greatest danger associated with the wet and heavy nature of the spring snow will be downed tree limbs, which can damage property and cause power outages.

Another danger will be the physical strain associated with shoveling the heavy, slushy accumulation.

Accumulating snow will extend southward into the mid-Atlantic region, where the snow will begin during the daylight hours today, limiting the amount of accumulation on relatively warm roadways. However, a couple of inches will accumulate through tonight in the Appalachians of Pennsylvania, especially on unpaved surfaces.

Parts of this region had snow from the first part of the double-barreled, late-season storm on Wednesday night.

Predominantly rain will fall in the major cities along the Eastern Seaboard, with the threat of flooding in low-lying and poor-drainage areas. However, rain will mix with or change to snow for a time in Boston and New York City, with over 6 inches of heavy, wet snow possible in the western suburbs. Rain might even briefly change to snow for a time as far south as Philadelphia by Friday morning.

Thunderstorms will move through the eastern Carolinas, eastern Georgia and Florida, with the greatest likelihood of dangerous thunderstorms -- including hail, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes -- in Florida.

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The accumulating snow in upstate New York and northern and central parts of New England will add to an impressive existing snow cover. As of early Thursday, approximately 76 percent of this region was still covered in snow. The additional snowfall will add to the potential flooding threat along rivers and streams as the snow melts in the coming weeks.

The overall stormy pattern shows no signs of ending. Computer forecast models predict that another significant storm will occur in the mid-Atlantic region and the Northeast by the middle of next week, with rain and perhaps additional snow.

An active storm track in the spring, along with cooler than average temperatures, is typical for a year with an ongoing La Nina.