AccuWeather.com is predicting that the Monday commute in New England could be messy with snow and ice a possibility.
AccuWeather.com reports accumulating snow and an icy mix are pushing toward the Northeast to end the weekend.
As Sunday progresses, slippery conditions from snow and ice will continue spreading from Kentucky to Virginia and Pennsylvania.
During Sunday night, travel delays from wintry precipitation are likely from western Virginia to New York–including New York City, northern New Jersey and central and southern New England.
On Monday, the wintry mess will focus over much of New York and interior New England. However, there will still be some freezing rain across central Pennsylvania.
A large amount of snow is not expected in the I-95 corridor with most places receiving a brief period of snow transitioning to rain.
Only a coating to an inch or two of snow and a bit of sleet is likely along the I-95 corridor but it would be the first accumulating snow of the season so far from Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia, New York City and Boston. Most of the snow accumulation will be on non-paved surfaces, but slippery roads are possible.
Of the I-95 cities, Washington, D.C. may have the longest duration where temperatures are near to below the freezing mark (32 degrees) and precipitation is falling.
Because Washington, D.C. is located farthest inland of the I-95 cities it may take the area longer to warm up during the storm in this situation.
As the storm moves along Sunday through Monday many locations over the interior will also transition to plain rain. However, there will continue to be a few pockets where an extended period of ice occurs with treacherous driving conditions.
One area of ice is likely to focus in the I-81 corridor from western Virginia to south central Pennsylvania.
Another zone where some ice buildup is possible is over central New England and part of eastern upstate New York.
According to AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski, “Enough ice may accrue on trees and utility lines in both areas to block roads and cause power outages.”
Only if more sleet were to fall instead of freezing rain would there be less serious damage and disruption.
People attempting to catch Sunday afternoon and evening flights in or out of the mid-Atlantic are likely to experience delays and could be faced with a few cancellations. These flight disruptions will expand into New England Monday.
The storm will also put down snow and ice west of the Appalachians through much of the Midwest and rain in the South. A wintry mix will lead to slippery travel and potential flight delays from Detroit to Chicago, Minneapolis and Omaha, Neb. Flight delays from rain and low ceilings are possible at Atlanta and Charlotte, N.C.
Road conditions are likely to improve from Washington, D.C., to New York City by Monday morning as rain takes over, but travel may be slow, slushy and slippery around Boston in the early hours. Flight delays due to rain and low ceilings may linger through much of the day Monday in the I-95 Northeast.
The northern and western suburbs of the I-95 cities will stay colder longer and are likely to have more snow, ice and travel woes when compared to the major cities closer to the coast.
By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist for AccuWeather.com