Interior New York and Northern Pennsylvania Lead Snow Chances as Weak Clipper Brushes Parts of New Jersey and Connecticut

ALBANY, N.Y. — A fast-moving Alberta Clipper is expected to cross the interior Northeast late Monday night into Tuesday morning, bringing a brief window for light snow accumulation across inland portions of New York and northern Pennsylvania, while coastal areas see little to no snowfall.

Forecast models show the system arriving during the overnight hours, with precipitation developing quickly and exiting just as fast by late Tuesday morning. While this is not expected to be a major snow producer, the timing gives some communities a short-lived chance at fresh snow ahead of Christmas.

“This is a quick hitter — not a big storm — but the setup favors interior zones more than the coast.

Interior New York and Northern Pennsylvania: Highest Snow Potential

The best chance for measurable snow is focused across:

• The Mohawk Valley
• Capital Region
• Catskills
• Northern Tier of Pennsylvania

In these areas, colder air is more firmly in place, allowing precipitation to fall primarily as snow. Most locations are expected to see a dusting to around 1 inch, with a few higher elevations possibly approaching 2 inches if snow rates briefly increase overnight.

Snowfall should be light but steady for a few hours, mainly between midnight and mid-morning Tuesday, before tapering off from west to east.

Southern and Coastal Areas: Limited Impact, Mostly Rain or Mix

Farther south and closer to the coast, including parts of:

• Southern Pennsylvania
• Central and southern New Jersey
• Coastal Connecticut

warmer air near the surface is expected to limit snow potential. In these areas, precipitation may fall as rain or a brief rain-snow mix, with little to no accumulation expected.

Forecast probabilities for measurable snow drop off sharply south of the I-78 corridor, making travel impacts minimal outside interior zones.

Why This System Is Being Watched Closely

Despite its weak nature, forecasters are monitoring this clipper because:

• It arrives during overnight hours, favoring snow over rain inland
• It moves through just days before Christmas, increasing interest in even minor snowfall
• Small track shifts could slightly adjust where light snow sets up

“Even shallow systems can surprise when timing and temperatures line up just right.”

Still, confidence remains high that this stays a low-impact event overall.

Travel and Holiday Impact Outlook

• Interior roads may become briefly slick early Tuesday morning
• Major highways and urban corridors should remain mostly wet
• No significant delays or disruptions are expected

Temperatures are forecast to moderate later in the week, meaning any snow that falls will likely melt quickly.

Bottom Line

This system will not bring a widespread winter storm, but interior sections of the Northeast have the clearest shot at seeing a light, festive snowfall as the week begins. Coastal and southern areas should expect little impact, with warmer air limiting snow chances.

For more weather updates and regional forecasts, stay connected with ChicagoMusicGuide.com as conditions continue to evolve.