Major Snow Storm Could Hit NYC Before Thanksgiving: Forecasters

NEW YORK, NY – The winter's first major snow storm could hit New York City even before the holidays arrive, according to forecasters.

AccuWeather is warning of a displacement of the dreaded "polar vortex," which could hit the Northeast along with "a significant storm with rain, snow and wind" in the run up to Thanksgiving.

"There is the risk for the first major snowstorm somewhere in the Northeast during the period from Saturday, Nov. 18 to Tuesday, Nov. 22," AccuWeather meteorologist Paul Pastelok said.

The polar vortex is a weather system typically found within the Arctic Circle. Arctic air is usually locked up within its bounds, AccuWeather said.

"One such southward displacement of arctic air is in progress and will sweep across the Upper Midwest and Northeast into this weekend," according to Pastelok. "A second southward displacement is possible around the days prior to Thanksgiving."

This weekend's event is expected to bring freezing temperatures, possibly reaching record lows, from Friday into Saturday. But it's not expected to bring snow to the city, forecasters said.

The bad weather predicted before Thanksgiving has potential to be much more problematic.

The magnitude and path of the cold air as well as the exact formation and track of the storm may become clearer later next week, AccuWeather said.

Here is the weather forecast for this weekend:

Today
Partly sunny, with a high near 52. Northeast wind 5 to 7 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
Tonight
Isolated showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 33. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west 13 to 18 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Friday
Sunny, with a temperature falling to around 32 by 5pm. Wind chill values between 20 and 25. Breezy, with a northwest wind around 24 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph.
Friday Night
Clear, with a low around 23. Wind chill values between 15 and 20. Blustery, with a northwest wind 11 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Veterans Day
Sunny, with a high near 39. North wind 6 to 11 mph becoming light northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 32.
Sunday
Partly sunny, with a high near 48.
Sunday Night
A 30 percent chance of rain after 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42.

(Originally reported by Tom Davis/Patch)

Patch file photo