New York’s winter storm could affect Thanksgiving travel plans

NEW YORK – Before it’s time to defrost the turkey, a cold low pressure system could suffocate Thanksgiving travel plans in the Tri-State with freezing temperatures, high winds — and even snow.

JUMP TO: NEW YORK SNOW l NYC RAIN l WINTER FORECAST

A powerful winter storm has the potential to batter parts of the state with accumulating snow, cold temperatures, high winds and rain — just as many people prepare to leave early for Thanksgiving.

According to FOX Forecast Centersnowfall is possible across parts of the northern Mid-Atlantic and the interior Northeast from the end of the week into the weekend. But forecasters said there is still considerable uncertainty about the amount of cold air available for snow.

There is also the threat of snow effect, but that will be hit-or-miss depending on how the low pressure system tracks, according to FOX Forecast Center. As it stands now, the air may be too warm to support snow effect.

Meanwhile NOAA NWS Climate Prediction Center agrees and also says the powerful storm system could possibly bring lake effect snowfall between Thursday and Friday, but ultimately it all depends on the cold air.

“There is uncertainty in the size of the cold air, which could affect the type of precipitation and snow totals for some locations,” the agency said in a post on Facebook.

“There is uncertainty in the size of the cold air, which could affect the type of precipitation and snow totals for some locations,” the agency said in a post on Facebook.

Meanwhile, New York City will receive some much needed rain.

The rainfall could be heavy at times, but so far it is FOX Forecast Center do not expect flooding in the region due to recent record dry conditions.

This is according to the National Weather Service chance of rain Wednesday night in NYC is 90%, dropping to around 60% for Thursday.

New York City has not received a quarter inch of rain in a day since September 29th.

Although this week’s forecast shows no likely snowfall for NYC, FOX 5 NEW Nick Gregory predicts the city could receive approx 20 inches snow this winter, compared to the typical season average of 28 inches.

“We will likely have above average temperatures this winter along with more snow than last year, with somewhere close 18-23″but that’s below the average snowfall for a NYC winter,” Gregory said.

Meanwhile, the lower Hudson Valley could see slightly more snowfall, with totals in between 20 and 25 incheswith more snowfall further north. Much of winter can bring a mix of rain and snow along the coast, with heavier snow falling further north.

When could NYC see its first snowflakes?

Historically, the first measurable snow (accumulation of an inch or more) tends to fall in the NYC area around December 13. The earliest measurable snowfall was on October 29, 2011, when 2.9 inches fell days before Halloween.