Wicked weather is knocking at the door

Wind, rain, snow and fronts, Oh my!

Wind, rain, snow and fronts, Oh my!

Wind, rain, snow and fronts, Oh my!

A huge storm is coming with a Wizard of Oz twist. Get ready for a truly wicked winter storm system that will visit here Thursday night into Friday...right on cue as March "coming in like a lion" is a meteorological adage that is well documented.

March is famous for extreme weather:

In 1993, a "Superstorm" brought 90 mph wind gusts, thunder, heavy sleet and around 1 foot of snow to the New York City area.

In 1990 and 1998, the high temperature at Central Park reached the mid to high 80s, warmer than the normal high for mid-Summer.

And in 1888, the most famous blizzard to hit the Northeast, brought 21" of snow, 60+ mph wind gusts and near zero degree temps to NYC. Near 50" of snow fell in Albany, NY.

A storm system approaching now from the Midwest will move east and strengthen to a Nor'easter off the coast tonight and really intensify quickly on Friday. It will move slowly and hammer the region initially with heavy rain, very strong wind gusts and then snow as well throughout the day. Winds could gust 50-60 mph, and locally even higher. 2-3" of rain is possible which will cause flooding.

It now appears too that the Nor'easter will generate enough cold air to bring some snow accumulation to the area Friday into Friday night. Up to around 5" of slushy snow could accumulate before it ends early Saturday morning.

There could be localized coastal flooding here near the coast, while New England may see major coastal flooding similar to what occurred in the January "bomb cyclone".

The big storm will move away by Saturday but strong northerly winds, 30+ mph in gusts, should continue.