Arctic Chill Tests East Coast as Uncertain Coastal Storm Looms

Persistent Arctic air keeps the Northeast in subfreezing temps as forecasters monitor a developing coastal storm off the Carolinas that could bring significant wintry weather to the Southern Appalachians and Mid-Atlantic, with potential blizzard conditions and gusts near hurricane force. While forecast models diverge on the storm’s exact track, confidence is rising for coastal impacts and heavy snow in parts of the Southeast, with record-low temperatures expected in cities like New York, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh and subfreezing conditions likely into early February; a rapid intensification (bomb cyclone) remains possible but not guaranteed.