Snow Squall Sweeping Across New York May Cause Whiteouts

(Bloomberg) -- A brief, powerful snow squall is forecast to sweep across the New York metropolitan area Wednesday as Arctic air grips the region.

The system, moving at 35 miles (56 kilometers) per hour, could temporarily create whiteout conditions and make travel “life threatening,” according to the National Weather Service in Upton, New York. The storm is expected to pass by 4:15 p.m.

The overnight low will drop to 15 degrees Fahrenheit (-9 Celsius) in Manhattan, said Jay Engle, a meteorologist with the weather service. Gusts could reach 20 miles (32 kilometers) per hour, pushing the wind chill to zero degrees.

The low in Washington Wednesday will be 22. Philadelphia will drop to 17, and Boston will hit 13. High winds will sweep the tip of Long Island and Cape Cod, and lake-effect snow could spread across upstate New York.

By the weekend, when winter officially begins, temperatures will rise, said Brian Hurley, a senior branch forecaster at the U.S. Weather Prediction Center. By Sunday the high in Manhattan’s Central Park could hit 45 degrees, which is above normal.

“The cold doesn’t last very long,” Hurley said.

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