A one-two punch of high winds and heavy snowfall has the potential to create blizzard-like conditions in the Tri-State area on Monday as the largest winter storm in years engulfs the region.
The dupe will come on Monday with 1 to 2 inches of snow per hour or even higher, along with gusts of wind of 40-50 mph. Some areas may even experience thunder at the height of the storm.
The snow will diminish on Tuesday, but the blowing and drifting will continue as the wind remains gusty.
The event could run for as long as 48 hours, making it a rare blizzard like the one we see every five to 10 years, said ABC7 meteorologist Jeff Smith.
RELATED: School Closures for New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut
WARNING: Winter storm warnings issued by the National Weather Service
Sunday night, New York City looked like a snow globe from rooftop cameras as visibility was rapidly diminishing.
With states of emergency declared for New Jersey and New York City, there was a layer of snow in the five boroughs by early evening, and parts of New Jersey were already several inches in size, with the storm just hours after its attack on the region.
When all is said and done, the metropolitan area could see dramatic extremes in accumulations, with 18 to 24 inches possibly in northwestern New Jersey – as close to town as northwestern Bergen County – and in southern parts of the Catskills .
That pocket of intense snow accumulation could get closer to the city, depending on how much the storm keeps all the snow closer to shore. Coastal areas could see a mix of precipitation if temperatures rise above freezing later in the day on Monday, as the slow-moving storm drags milder air from the Atlantic Ocean toward it.
Right now, Northeast and Central New Jersey, New York City, western Nassau County, the Hudson Valley, and nearby Connecticut all hit the bull’s eye for a solid foot of up to 45 inches of snow.
East Nassau and West Suffolk counties are in the 6 “-12” range, and Long Island’s twin forks, along with South Jersey, could only see 3 “- 6”, with mixing and warmer air.
The strongest winds will be along the coast and over Long Island. It’s the coastal areas and town itself that could potentially see blizzard-like conditions for a while, but the National Weather Service has not issued such a warning. For now, the entire region remains under a winter storm warning.
The storm will slowly recede on Tuesday, but it will still be windy and chilly. Extra significant accumulation isn’t likely during Tuesday’s day, but don’t be surprised if you see a few more inches before the storm finally sets sail.
The snow itself will likely remain fluffy throughout the event as it is so cold, but can get wetter and heavier in coastal air that mixes.
Coastal areas will also face the risk of flooding from the powerful storm, with flood warnings in effect on Long Island until 3am Tuesday. These areas are at risk of moderate coastal flooding, but major flooding can occur in some areas.
High tide Monday evenings could cause 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 feet of flooding in sensitive areas, areas like Freeport and Lindenhurst on Long Island and the back bays of South Shore. The slow moving nature of the storm will involve several high water cycles, adding to the concerns.
RELATED: Live Winter Storm Updates From Across the Tri-State
Stay with the AccuWeather team for continuous updates.
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