Mesoscale Discussion 0156
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
1158 AM CST Sat Feb 19 2022
Areas affected...CT...RI...MA...NJ...southeast NY...eastern
PA...southern portions of VT and NH...northern portions of MD and DE
Concerning...Snow Squall
Valid 191758Z - 192200Z
SUMMARY...An intense snow squall will continue to accompany an
arctic cold front as it moves rapidly east this afternoon, resulting
in a brief period of blizzard/near-blizzard conditions.
DISCUSSION...Composite radar imagery continues to show an intense
snow squall accompanying a strong cold front that was moving rapidly
east (near 40 kt) across portions of the northeast U.S. at 1755z.
Surface observations and time-lapse camera imagery show rapid
deterioration of visibility along with accumulating snow as the snow
squall moves through, with several METAR observations reporting
brief blizzard conditions.
In the presence of strong and focused ascent along the front through
low-level convergence, low/mid-level frontogenetic forcing and
rapidly cooling surface temperatures, the majority of latest
high-res guidance supports a continuation of the snow squall as it
moves east with the cold front through much of the remainder of this
afternoon. A brief period of heavy snow along with wind gusts of
35-45 mph will result in blizzard or near-blizzard conditions as
visibility is quickly reduced to at or below 1/4 mile.