FOUS11 KWBC 221952
QPFHSD

Probabilistic Heavy Snow and Icing Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
252 PM EST Sun Feb 22 2026

Valid 00Z Mon Feb 23 2026 - 00Z Thu Feb 26 2026

...Central Appalachians, Mid-Atlantic, through Northeast... Days 1-2...

*** Nor'Easter rapidly develops today as it slowly shifts north
 just off the Mid-Atlantic Coast. Heavy snow and blizzard
 conditions are expected for the Delmarva through the Northeast
 Urban Corridor into eastern New England through Monday. ***

Forecast for a major impact Nor'Easter remains on track with
significant snow and major impacts likely for areas along and east
of I-95 from the Delmarva up through Eastern New England. Surface
analysis at 18z indicates a strengthening 1001mb SLP about 70-80
miles offshore of the VA/NC border. Expectation is for this low to
undergo rapid intensification later this evening as the upper
pattern to the west begins to tilt negative and steadily close off
at 500mb and 700mb as it cuts across the state of VA, and as it
nestles within the LER of a potent 140kt upper jet max currently
pivoting east across the Carolinas. By 03z Mon, the upper levels 
will begin the process of "capturing" the surface low off the Lower
Delmarva leading to the rapid intensification as the system becomes
more vertically stacked with the 850-500mb height fields coming
into alignment. By Monday morning, our surface low will be easily
into the low-mid 970s with further intensification likely as it
drifts to the northeast becoming positioned to the southeast of
Nantucket by the afternoon hours. A 1050mb surface high pressure 
approaches Ontario tonight, setting up a great pressure gradient 
across the Great Lakes and Northeast leading to blizzard conditions
for those along and southeast of the I-95 corridor from
Philadelphia up through NJ/LI/NYC into all of Southeast New England.

Beginning to see heavier precip bands across the Delmarva pivoting
up into Southern NJ with any rainfall changing over to snow as
diabatic cooling processes aid in the transition from liquid to
solid hydrometeors. Areas across the Central Mid Atlantic will see
a transition from rain to snow between 20-22z as the upper level
dynamics mature and attendant height falls from the west contribute
to swift top-down cooling processes to eventually change to setup 
to all snow. We'll see all snow the entire Northeast corridor by 
that point leading to steady accumulations from NoVA up through New England.

Snowfall rates really increase this evening over the Delmarva/NJ 
and NYC from the combo of further low development and nocturnal 
trends with 12Z HREF snow rate probabilities of at least 1"/hr
between 60-90+% over this area by 00Z with localized 2"/hr rates
across southern DE into NJ by midnight. Late night snow rates 
further increase, exceeding 2.5"/hr over Long Island before 
shifting to southeast New England by 09Z. Day 1-1.5 snow probs for
>12" are 70-100% from the MD part of the Delmarva through 
the eastern two-thirds of Mass. Day 1-1.5 snow probs for >18" are 
highest across much of NJ through LI into eastern Mass with probs
between 50-80%. One area to point out away from the area of highest
impact is across portions of NoVA into west-central MD up into
central PA where a localized, narrow band of heavy snowfall is 
forecast from a maturing norlun (inverted) trough axis that will 
setup well northwest of the surface low as low-level winds converge
on the outer proxy of the surface cyclone and maturing 850mb low 
maturing nearby. Recent probabilities for >4" really denote this 
potential with a narrow corridor of 40-70% probs over the area of anticipated
impact with ~80% across the Catoctin Mtns between 
MD/PA. Rates of 1-2"/hr with large dendrite production will likely 
occur in this band providing short term impacts later this evening 
when it materializes. 

Event peak snow rates per the HREF are 3"/hr early Monday, though 
the very high winds (with gusts potentially to 70mph) will limit 
the SLR, so that may not be realized, but it'll be quite impactful
snow banding with oceanic enhancement. The low then pivots towards 
Nova Scotia with rates of 1-2"/hr through Monday afternoon. Monday 
evening north flow from the Gulf of Maine should allow a pivoting 
band of ocean enhanced snow into southeast Mass/Cape Cod further 
adding to the historic snow. Day 2 snow probs for >12" are 50-70% 
over eastern Mass and just off the Maine coast with 60-80% probs 
for >6" from southern NH through eastern Maine and down through eastern CT. 

Upslope snow through the central Apps will occur this afternoon, 
continuing through Monday evening. Snow rates generally stay below 
1"/hr, but the prolonged duration leads to some significant snow 
fall. Day 1-1.5 snow probs for >6" are 50-80% in the Laurels of PA
through the Allegheny Plateau of central WV.

...Cascades and Northern Rockies... Days 1-3...

General continuity from the previous forecast...Sprawling deep low
continues to linger well off the WA coast today, directing Pacific
moisture across the Northwest CONUS. This low then shears into a 
zonally oriented trough Monday which directs an atmospheric river 
(AR) into OR later Monday before shunting south through northern CA
Monday night/Tuesday. 

Snow levels rise today to 3500ft in the WA Cascades, 5000-6000ft 
in OR, and 6500ft in far northern CA. Day 1 snow probs for >6" are
50-90% in the WA Cascades (above pass level) and the highest OR/CA Cascades.

A tighter baroclinic zone sets up Monday with snow levels dropping
to around 2500ft at Snoqualmie Pass WA and to around 4000ft in
northwest MT while rising above 7000/8000ft in the core of the AR 
in OR. Day 2 snow probs for >6" are 50% at pass level in the WA
Cascades and for the ranges of northwest MT.

The southward shift in the AR through Tuesday brings heavy precip
to northern portions of CA and the Great Basin with CA snow levels
over 9000ft with no snow impacts. Snow levels are closer to 7000ft
in NW WY and central ID where Day 3 >6" snow probs are 50-80%.

...Great Lakes... Days 1/2...

No change to the previous forecast. Inverted trough extending 
northwest from low over Lake Huron maintains NNWly flow and strong 
cold air advection over Lakes Superior and Michigan today. This 
expands east across Lake Erie tonight into Monday as the Nor'easter
develops off the Mid- Atlantic coast. Day 1 snow probs for >4" are
40-70% over the Porcupine and Huron Mtns as well as over far SW MI
and northern IN. Day 1.5 snow probs for >4" are 40-70% southeast 
of Lake Erie in northeast OH, Erie Co PA, and Chautauqua Co NY. 

Day 3...

An Alberta Clipper shift ESE from northern MN through MI Tuesday
before reaching Upstate NY Tuesday night. Warm air advection ahead
of the surface low will be into an Arctic airmass with plenty of
DGZ available for snow crystal growth. Moderate snow rates from
Lake Michigan enhancement can be expected in the eastern U.P. where
Day 3 snow probs for >6" are 40-60%. LES begins on the back side 
of the clipper Tuesday night off Lake Superior, spreading across 
the Great Lakes then Wednesday leading to >6" snow probs between
40-70% downwind of Superior across the central and eastern U.P. of Michigan.

Kleebauer/Jackson

...Winter Storm Key Messages are in effect. Please see current 
 Key Messages below...

https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/key_messages/La...

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 * Origin: Capitol City Online (618:250/1)