Weekend winter storm to hit Northeast Coast amid brutal cold from Polar Vortex, bringing snow for millions

NEW York — Beginning Saturday night and lasting into Sunday morning, the Interstate 95 corridor along the Northeast coast is primed to see its first major winter system of the season. A fast‑moving low‑pressure system is taking advantage of a sudden cold snap triggered by a fresh intrusion of the Polar Vortex.

The forecast calls for a blanket of 1–3 inches of snow that will spread from Indiana and Ohio all the way to Maryland, Washington, DC, New Jersey, and New York City. In the far‑northern stretches of New England, up to Providence, Rhode Island, accumulating snow is also on the table.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, the Polar Vortex’s grip will loosen over the weekend, allowing a surge of cold air from Canada to flow into the Midwest and Northeast. This drop in temperature will help the upcoming moisture turn right into snow.

This development follows the record‑low temperatures that were recorded in New England earlier in the week.

The Polar Vortex itself is a vast, long‑lasting area of low pressure and frigid air near the poles, hanging about 10 to 30 miles above the Earth’s surface.

A robust Polar Vortex keeps the coldest air trapped over the Arctic circles. When it weakens, that icy air spills down, and dips in the Pacific jet stream usher it from Canada into the lower 48.

Computer models are now in stronger agreement that the snow will push into the Midwest and Ohio Valley on Saturday. Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and Columbus are all lined up for another burst of snow late Saturday night, following the round of snow that already hit the area on Thursday and Friday.

Winter‑storm watches have been issued across Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The storm will push into the Northeast overnight on Saturday. Residents along the coast should expect to wake to fresh snow on Sunday before the system clears the region by early afternoon.

At present, the heaviest snow is projected along southern New Jersey through Philadelphia and then southwest toward Washington, DC, with totals ranging from 3–5 inches.

While Washington and Baltimore have already received measurable snowfall for the season, this will be the first significant dose for the Philadelphia and New York City metros.

Anyone planning outdoor activities this weekend should keep a close eye on the latest updates and timing.

This incoming storm is very much in line with the NOAA long‑range outlook from last month, which projected an active start to meteorological winter thanks in part to the La Niña climate pattern.