Northeast Soaking Rain & Sierra Nevada Blizzard: 11-12 to 11-14-2026
A powerful coastal storm is set to soak the Northeast with rain from Thursday into Friday, bringing snow to higher areas of New York and northern New England. As polar air moves in, heavy lake-effect snow will impact Michigan's Upper Peninsula. In the Pacific, a storm will deliver heavy rain, strong winds, and blizzard conditions to the Sierra Nevada starting Friday. Let's dive into the details!
What's Happening in the Northeast?
CONUS — On Thursday and Friday, the Northeast will experience a soaking rain, especially around New York City, NY. Colder air will shift rain to snow tonight into Friday in higher areas like northeastern Pennsylvania and northern New England, while lower areas could see a wintry mix. This is due to the storm moving across New England and wrapping colder air around it.
Polar Air and Its Impact
As we head into the weekend, a cold air mass from eastern Canada will spread across the central and eastern U.S., dropping overnight temperatures into the 20s by Friday. Expect below-freezing temperatures up to the Deep South by Saturday morning, leading to frost and freeze conditions. Lake-effect snow is expected through Friday, especially heavy in higher areas of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
Western U.S. Weather Changes
Through Thursday, the Northwest and Great Basin will remain warm and dry. However, by Friday, a strong Pacific storm will hit the West Coast. This storm will bring heavy rain and strong winds to northern California and the Pacific Northwest. The Sierra Nevada should brace for heavy snow and potential blizzard conditions, making travel very challenging. A separate system from Baja California will bring rain to southern California and spread toward the Four Corners region by Saturday.
With the potential for severe weather, especially in areas prone to flooding and other adverse conditions, it's important to stay updated with local forecasts and advisories, check out our current weather and forecast visualization maps, as well as selected areas below related to our report. Use the slider to move forward and back in the days and time to view how forecasts will affect an area; the related timestamp is located above the Play button. Be Safe!
Weather Terms Glossary
