Map Shows 5 States to Get Hit Hardest With Incoming Storm

Five states will likely face the brunt of a late season winter storm that’s expected to last several days in the Northeast this week, according to a map from the National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Prediction Center.

Heavy snow and gusty winds are on the way for the Northeast, and the storm has the highest chance of impacting five states—Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts and New York. The approaching winter weather comes roughly a week after a winter storm brought heavy mixed precipitation to New York that caused icy roads and hazardous travel.

“No, this is NOT an April Fool’s Joke! Confidence is increasing that a significant winter storm will bring heavy snow and gusty winds to portions of the Great Lakes and Northeast later this week. Please stay tuned for forecast updates the next few days,” the NWS Weather Prediction Center posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday afternoon with a map of the states expecting impact from the storm.

The map shows the full anticipated impact of the storm, including in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Jersey, but the most severe impacts are expected further northeast.

“It’s a nor’easter developing along the coast. There’s a storm over the central part of the country now,” NWS meteorologist Marc Chenard told Newsweek, adding that as the strengthening low from the storm moves into the Great Lakes, another low-pressure system is moving up the East Coast.

“The combination of these two lows is bringing the wintry weather to the Northeast,” he said.

The NWS Weather Prediction Center warning said that the large storm system will “produce a swath of heavy snow and gusty winds across portions of the Great Lakes and into the Northeast Wednesday through Friday.”

The storm will begin by bringing heavy snow to the Great Lakes early Wednesday through early Thursday before the storm will shift along the coast to bring heavy snow and mixed freezing rain/sleet to the Northeast from late Wednesday through Friday.

“The combination of heavy snow rates and gusty winds will likely result in hazardous travel due to low visibility and snow-covered roads,” the NWS Weather Prediction Center warned. “Additionally, the heavy and wet nature of the snow could produce impacts to infrastructure.”

Meteorologists are still uncertain of the exact timing and location of the storm track, which will affect where the most significant impacts are expected. The NWS Weather Prediction Center urged people who live near the affected areas to remain up to date with local forecasts.