The Northeast continues to be under a wide area of low pressure that brings rounds of snow from northern Maine through Upstate New York and Pennsylvania.

The broader low-pressure system is driving counterclockwise rotation across the Northeast. This system is located over eastern Canada, but another system moving in from the west will bring heavy rounds of winter precipitation over the upper Ohio Valley through the Mid-Atlantic. Some schools have issued an early release due to the snow across the Washington DC area and surroundings.

Lake effect snow also occurs across parts of Upstate New York, northwestern Pennsylvania, and northeastern Ohio. Traveling could be dangerous due to slippery roads and reduced visibility, as some areas will get blustery snow that could accumulate at rates of up to 2 inches an hour. Up to 16 inches of snow could fall, especially for cities near Lake Erie.

The winds and temperatures will continue to be big news today and tomorrow. With this broad low-pressure system and the quick-moving incoming storm, the pressure gradient will continue to be strong across the Northeast and New England. Our WindRadar shows wind gusts could reach 40 mph at times in cities like Pittsburgh, New York City and Boston.

Temperatures have been dropping steadily this week, but a more significant and steeper drop is expected this weekend. Highs will be between 5 and 10 degrees below normal on Saturday, while lows will be around average across the Northeast this time of year. The winds will make the temperatures feel like they were in the single digits across extreme northern and inland locations. Still, a much colder air mass arriving early next week will make the temperatures plunge even further.