Higher snow totals likely south and east of NYC from Sunday into Monday. Here's the latest forecast.
All eyes are fixed on a developing coastal storm over the weekend, with higher snow totals increasingly likely for New York City and the Tri-State Area.
A winter storm watch and a First Alert Weather Day are in effect for the Tri-State Area, starting Sunday morning through Monday afternoon.
After what is expected to be a remarkably nice Saturday featuring some sun and milder temperatures reaching the mid-to-upper 40s, colder air will rush back in on Sunday in advance of the next storm.
Forecast models remain at odds on how much snow the region will get, but the general consensus is north and west of New York City will see at least 6-10 inches, while points south and east could get up to 15 inches. The snowfall will be heavy at times with blizzard conditions featuring winds up to 50 mph possible.
The GFS model, which has been showing a significant snowstorm for days, continues to be the most aggressive with projections. As of Friday evening, the outputs suggest parts of the area could see upwards of 20 inches of snow, with the biggest amounts inland and on the coast.
The EURO model, which has trended a bit closer to the coast in its track recently, is calling for a more modest 6-8 inches of snow in most locations.
For now, it's best to plan for accumulating light to moderate snow that could begin as early as Sunday morning, becoming steadier during the day. Lingering impacts may extend into Monday morning's commute.
In addition to snow, the strengthening storm offshore can also bring with it gusty winds and minor to moderate coastal flooding as well.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said pre-snow operations will start Saturday, with plows being mounted, salt spreaders being loaded and crews being prepared. Sunday, Department of Sanitation workers will work 12-hour shifts. A Code Blue will be in effect.
The First Alert Weather Team will continue to monitor the storm's track and trends and provide updates on air and online throughout the weekend. On Sunday, we'll have hourly updates live on CBS News New York starting at noon.
Click here to check the latest weather watches, warnings and alerts in our area.
