Light to moderate snow has fallen throughout the Mid-Atlantic from the past storm system. These snow accumulations are a great boost to conditions throughout the region. Here is a look at our PowderFinder of snowfall totals from the past 5 days. 

Image courtesy of OpenSnow PowderFinder. Some resorts are still not reporting snow accumulation amounts but conditions are good throughout the region. 

Resorts in the northern Mid-Atlantic are still seeing snow fall from lake-effect snow showers. These snow showers will continue to produce light to moderate snow accumulations in central to northwestern Pennsylvania, and western to central New York. Snow will become more widespread throughout Saturday as bands develop and strengthen. Here is a look at the HRRR model’s depiction of precipitation type/intensity and mean sea-level pressure (MSLP) from 9 am Saturday until 6 am Sunday. 

GIF courtesy of TropicalTidbits. 

The heaviest amounts will be in western and central New York. Snow bands could produce an additional 2 - 5 inches of lake-effect powder by Sunday morning. Snow squalls will even affect central Pennsylvania and the higher terrain of the western Mid-Atlantic. These snow squalls will be brief and intense, producing a quick 1 - 2 inches. This will make some great, soft Sunday morning turns. Here is a look at the HRRR model’s snow accumulation amounts by 11 am Sunday. 

Image courtesy of WeatherBell.

Powder alert for resorts in western and central New York for Saturday evening and or Sunday morning turns! This little bit of powder will be great to shred. These snow showers will weaken Sunday morning and dissipate by the afternoon. Dry air is moving in ahead of the next weak storm system that will affect the region on Monday

This storm system will move into the western Mid-Atlantic early Monday morning from the Great Lakes region. Scattered snow will affect the western Mid-Atlantic and areas north of the Pennsylvania - Maryland border during the day Monday. Snow will fall lightly, but moderate pockets will be there throughout the region. This system will pass through quickly by Monday evening, leaving light snow accumulations. Generally, 2- 5 inches of snow is expected from the storm on Monday. Additionally, favorable conditions for lake-effect and higher terrain snow squalls will develop Monday evening and continue through Tuesday. Another weak storm system will move into the region from the Great Lakes giving the same areas in the northern Mid-Atlantic light and scattered snow on Tuesday afternoon. Let’s check out the ECMWF (Euro) model’s depiction of precipitation type/intensity and mean sea-level pressure (MSLP) from 5 am Monday until 2 am Wednesday. 

GIF courtesy of WeatherBell. 

This active start to the week is great news for resorts in the northern half of the region. Light to moderate snow accumulations is expected from these two weak storm systems. Here is a look at the Euro model’s depiction of snow accumulations from Monday, February 22nd until Tuesday, February 23rd. 

Image courtesy of WeatherBell. 

We’ll have to see how the strength of each of these storms progresses which will affect snow fall accumulations shown above. More chances of snow are in the extended forecast!

The round of weak storm systems will continue for the northern Mid-Atlantic on Wednesday and Thursday of next week. A favorable storm track for these weak storm systems moving in from Canada and the Great Lakes region will give light snow to the northern Mid-Atlantic. The next system I am talking about following the two earlier in the week remains a bit more uncertain though. Model disagreement about the strength and whether the storm affects us on Wednesday, February 24th, or Thursday, February 25th is there. Additionally warmer air will move in next week and increase the chances of light rain. Let’s check out the GFS and Euro model’s depiction of precipitation type/intensity and MSLP on Wednesday and Thursday, February 24/25th.

Images courtesy of WeatherBell. 

We’ll have to see how the models progress this weak storm system in the next few days. Otherwise, the rest of the region looks to be dry and see above-normal temperatures. This will finally break our cold weather period and temperatures will rise above freezing throughout the region mid to late next week. This will soften the slopes and bring our first taste of spring.

This taste of spring will be short-lived with the next potential major storm system moving toward our region late next week and weekend. This is far out but the models are showing a storm system moving across the country and traveling through the southern United States. This storm has the potential to affect our region by Friday and Saturday, February 26/27th. Both models show this storm tracking toward our region but differ if it will go out to sea or track along the coast. A storm will likely be near or in our area by late next week and weekend but it is too early to say where it will track. 

The month of February has been great for the East coast thus far. The continued round of storms will build our snowpack and our seasonal snowfall totals. OpenSnow has created a new map showing the Seasonal Snowfall thus far during the 2020 - 2021 winter. Check it out! 

Images courtesy of OpenSnow Maps. 

That’s all for this forecast, have a great weekend on the slopes! I will update you on Monday morning with more updates about the next week’s weather. 

Zach Butler, Meteorologist for the Mid-Atlantic Daily Snow.