Sneaky Atlantic storm to take a swipe at Northeast

AccuWeather meteorologists are closely monitoring the progress of a sneaky southern storm that will brush portions of the mid-Atlantic with icy conditions and unleash another round of accumulating snowfall in New England early this week.

A storm that developed just east of Florida this past weekend was dumping rain across eastern portions of the Carolinas Monday morning. But as the storm moved into colder air, AccuWeather forecasters said it was also unloading hazardous freezing rain and sleet near the Interstate 85 corridor. Into the midday hours on Monday, motorists and pedestrians should allow extra time for their commute as some roads and sidewalks can become slippery. During Monday afternoon, temperatures are expected to rise, which will lessen the risk of accumulating ice.

On this radar snapshot, taken at 7:30 a.m. EST on Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, rain is depicted as green and yellow, while ice is shown as pink and purple colors. (AccuWeather)

Forecasters expect the storm to track to the north-northeast and generally parallel the Eastern Seaboard into Tuesday.

"This low pressure system is projected to slide just to the east of the Carolinas throughout the day Monday," AccuWeather Meteorologist Adam Sadvary said, adding that areas of steadier rain and showers would continue to dampen the southern Atlantic coast as the storm moves along.

Those with morning commutes in Columbia, South Carolina, northward to Fayetteville, North Carolina, and eastward to the coast will face wet roadways and slower travel times due to areas of rain and drizzle. Despite the ice across upstate South Carolina and the northwestern half of North Carolina to parts of south-central Virginia, the storm's wintry impacts are likely to be brief.

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As the storm moves along and moisture expands into a progressively thicker layer of cold air, forecasters are eyeing potential more significant wintry hazards to take shape farther north.

Winds from the ocean were causing areas of light rain, ice and even snow to break out along the upper mid-Atlantic and southern New England coasts on Monday morning. This includes areas just east of Washington, D.C., and ramps up from Philadelphia to New York City and along the southern coast of New England and Long Island New York.

"This could cause issues for the morning commute as even a small amount of precipitation can make untreated streets and sidewalks slick with temperatures under the freezing mark," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski said.

Where roads and sidewalks were treated since the storm ended on Friday, icy spots may be rather patchy and confined to typically shaded areas and elevated surfaces, but forecasters say that caution should be exercised regardless.

AccuWeather meteorologists expect more widespread wintry weather to take shape farther north across New England.

The greatest risk of substantial snow with the coastal storm late Monday into Tuesday appears to be across the interior of Maine into Atlantic Canada, according to Pydynowski.

Depending on the exact extent of precipitation on the western side of the storm, accumulating snow could extend across western Massachusetts and into New Hampshire as well.

Locations such as Bangor, Maine, and Fredericton, New Brunswick, could be on the receiving end of a few inches of snowfall from the storm. Should the storm reach its full potential, snow in excess of half a foot could be possible farther north and west in the higher terrain.

In Boston, forecasters say that temperatures are likely to rise high enough by the onset of precipitation Monday afternoon for mostly rain to fall. Only if precipitation arrives earlier in the day could there be a brief period of light snow before a changeover to rain. The greatest threat for wintry hazards on the roadways are likely to be north and west of the city late Monday into Tuesday.

Even after this storm's brush with the region, the Northeast will not be out of the woods in terms of wintry weather this week. Several quick-hitting Alberta Clipper systems are likely to swing through the northern Plains, Upper Midwest and eventually the Northeast every few days throughout the week.

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