Mark Wysocki

Meteorologist and Senior Lecturer

Mark Wysocki, a meteorologist who specializes in forecasting and weather analysis at the Northeast Regional Climate Center, details the major winter storm to impact the East Coast over the next 72 hours.

Wysocki says:

“An Arctic air mass has a firm grip on two thirds of the eastern U.S. today. There are wind chill advisories or warnings for much of this region with wind chills of -20 to -30 degrees Fahrenheit forecasted for the northern half and -5 to -15 degrees Fahrenheit for the southern half. Since the Arctic air has reached the coastal regions, any little coastal storm system will be enhanced due to the large contrast in temperature and moisture between the land and water.

“The Gulf of Mexico water temperatures are 76 degrees Fahrenheit and the water temperatures off the East Coast are 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. This has resulted in various winter storm advisories, watches, or warnings for much of the Eastern seaboard Wednesday through Thursday night with blizzard warnings for the New England coastline Thursday night through Friday evening. As the storm nears New England it will strengthen rapidly leading to blizzard conditions for the coastal areas of Massachusetts and Maine tomorrow night into Friday evening.

“Record low temperatures could be set Friday night into Saturday morning along with record low high temperatures. Along with the very cold temperatures, gusty Northwest winds of 20 to 30 mph will drive the wind chills into the -15 to -20 degrees Fahrenheit range Thursday night through Saturday morning.

“Most forecast models are indicating a rapid warming starting Sunday night into Wednesday with highs reaching 32 degrees Fahrenheit for much of the Northeast ­– a return to more seasonal temperatures for next week.”