Potential Growing for 'Major Winter Storm' in NYC

UPDATE, Wednesday, 1 p.m.: Blizzard conditions and up to a foot of snow are now on the possible forecast for this weekend. Click here for all further updates on the storm.

By RYAN BONNER

New York City received its first measurable snowfall of the season Sunday, but it wasn’t exactly a major storm.

The real deal could be coming at the end of the week.

The National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather outlook for the NYC metropolitan area Tuesday morning, saying “there is growing potential for a major winter storm Friday night into Sunday. This storm could produce heavy snow, strong winds and significant coastal flooding.”

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On Monday evening, the National Weather Service’s New York office said on its Facebook page that “the probability of significant accumulating snow is increasing, but it is too early to get specific with amounts.”

The NWS does say there is the potential for 6 inches of snow or more. If you believe Weather.com, New York City is in line for five to eight inches of snow.

A full moon Saturday will only serve to exacerbate any flooding the storm brings.

Before we get to the potential weekend storm, New Yorkers will be contending with windy and cold conditions. As many people head back to work and school on Tuesday, the wind chill temperature will be a bone-chilling zero degrees, the NWS says.

Here’s the week’s forecast:

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 27. Wind chill values between zero and 10. Windy, with a west wind 24 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 41 mph.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 21. Wind chill values between 10 and 15. Windy, with a northwest wind 20 to 26 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph.

Wednesday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 34. Wind chill values between 10 and 20. Northwest wind 13 to 16 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. Wind chill values between 15 and 20. West wind 10 to 14 mph.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 34. Northwest wind 11 to 13 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 23.

Friday: A chance of snow after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 33. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday Night: Snow likely. Cloudy, with a low around 27. Blustery. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Saturday: Snow likely. Cloudy, with a high near 32. Windy. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Saturday Night: Snow likely, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. Blustery. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 36.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 24.

Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 38.

Photo: Flickr/CreativeCommons/Anthony Quintano