WINTER WHAMMY: First of 3 Storms to Bring 1-3 Inches of Snow, Sleet and Freezing Rain to NYC On Thursday

Days after Punxsutawney Phil announced six more weeks of winter, a powerful ice storm is expected to sweep through the East Coast from late Wednesday into Thursday morning. The storm will bring sleet, snow, and freezing rain, with two additional winter storms predicted for Friday and next week.

The National Weather Service has placed most of the Tri-State region under a winter weather advisory from 4 a.m. Thursday until Thursday afternoon as the series of storms approaches.

Overnight snowfall and sleet will continue into the morning hours, leading to hazardous travel conditions for commuters due to icy roads and slippery sidewalks.

Most areas will see between one to three inches of snow accumulation, while places near the Jersey Shore will likely experience only a light dusting of up to an inch. As the storm progresses, the precipitation will shift from snow and sleet to freezing rain, then to rain, as overnight temperatures in the 20s climb into the 30s by morning.

AccuWeather attributed the turbulent winter weather to “a clash of warm, humid air and cold Arctic air” stretching across the Midwest and Northeast.

In fact, Thursday’s storm could kick off “one of the stormiest periods of the winter,” AccuWeather reported, with February’s first half expected to see a flurry of storm activity.

Although the rain is expected to clear by Friday, bringing sunny skies and breezy conditions with a high of 41 degrees, the break from winter weather will be short-lived. Snow, sleet, and rain are forecast to return late Friday into Saturday as a second ice storm moves into the area.

Looking further ahead, a third storm system is set to develop in Texas and track eastward. This system could bring significant snow accumulation to the Eastern Seaboard next week.