So, a few things for Northeast and Mid-Atlantic GAF about this upcoming storm from a longtime weather watcher.
1. Someone along the East coast from DC to Hartford is going to get 18+ inches of snow with this storm, no matter the solution. There are 4 days to go before the storm reaches the area, but all models suggest that someone along the I-95 corridor is going to get more than one foot of snow.
The EURO, based on trends from the last couple of runs, thinks the storm will be a major system for DC, the Delmarva, the Appalachians, and southern NJ. The GFS, on the other hand, based on its own trends disagrees and shows a broader and slower solution for the storm where the entire I-95 corridor gets at least 1 foot of snow with DC, and northern NJ receiving 2+ feet of snow.
2. The storm is only now being sampled by the models. That means the predicted snowstorm, which has shown up on models for at least a week prior to today, has only now reached the west coast of the US a few hours ago. With the storm now in a better position for the models to accurately predict the outcome of the storm, forecasters will have a better time pinpointing the intensity and location of the snowstorm.
We should see more accurate model solutions tonight and tomorrow morning because the new sample data will be in those runs.
3. This is not like last year's, "Blizzard of the Century," that never was. Last year's storm was basically a merger of 3 separate systems. It was too complex for the models to handle and ultimately made a small, but large mistake of forecasting a storm 50 miles too far west.
This predicted storm will have a much simpler formation. It's one storm that explodes once it reaches the Atlantic and interacts with both the High over Canada and moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. The only difficulty the models may have is that the EURO and GFS are not entirely sure where the High over Canada will be.
If the High is over Montreal, the storm will be weaker and not give a foot to areas north of Newark, NJ, and areas east of Western Suffolk County, NY. If the high is 200 miles north of Montreal, the storm will be much stronger and will be able to reach the entirety of the I-95 corridor.
4. Climatology plays a major role in forecasting. Some major models show a 1-500 year snow event occurring in northern Virginia and western Maryland. Statistics say that will likely not happen. Climatologically speaking, it makes more sense for areas such as Philadelphia, NYC, and Hartford to see the snow totals that are currently being shown for points west of DC and Philadelphia. That said, El-Nino winters tend to discredit climatological history for short periods of time; especially during one of the strongest El-Ninos on record.
5. For those that live along the East Coast, particularly around southern New Jersey and Long Island, be prepared for coastal flooding and heavy winds. You may not get much snow compared to other areas, but most models predict sustained winds in excess of 30mph with gusts as high as 60mph for at least 6 hours during the storm.
6. Enjoy the ride during the lead up of the storm and try to stay away from accumulation maps until the storm is within 36-24 hours of reaching your particular area. I'm already seeing social media forecasters posting 15:1 ratio snowfall maps for a storm that is still nearly 5 days away. So much can change between now and then. Enjoy the fantasy model runs and the snow-lover suicide model solutions. Things will go up and down. If you're smart, you'll read between the lines and begin to see certain trends from the variety of models currently in use.
Cheers everyone and stay safe.