The next snow storm, potentially called Winter Storm Freya, is expected to bring several inches of snow throughout the northeastern United States by Wednesday, January 29, 2025. As reported last week, a developing system descending from Canada will hit many states in New England from Michigan to Maine, bringing occasional snow squalls that can reduce visibility and make travel conditions dangerous. If these conditions hold, the system could be named Winter Storm Freya by The Weather Channel. Here’s what the projected snow totals are for the upcoming winter storm.
What is the snow storm forecast for Winter Storm Freya?
The forecast for Winter Storm Freya predicts that 1 to 6 inches of snow will drop throughout the northeastern US by Wednesday evening.
According to weather models by Accuweather, cities like Pittsburgh, Boston, Portland, Detroit, and Burlington are project to get anywhere from 1 to 3 inches of snow. Meanwhile, Sudbury, Buffalo, Marquette, Midland, and Elk Rapids might receive over 3 inches in part due to lake-effect snow.
A similar but more conservative map made by the National Weather Service on Sunday (shown below) provides a percentage chance that several areas will receive two inches or more of snowfall by Wednesday night. Specifically, it has Rochester at 77%, Burlington and 54%, and Bangor at 12%.
The NWS has also released a set of warnings on Monday concerning snow squalls in the vicinity of the Great Lakes and areas in the Mid-Atlantic states and New England. The most prominently threatened area for snow squalls is centered between the border of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and southern New York, as an arctic front will produce unpredictable winds and bursts of snow throughout the region. This includes zero-visibility conditions and flash freezing. Drivers on a highway are recommended to pull over and wait out a snow squall.
Meanwhile, gusts up to 40 mph will bring a deep wind chill, particularly on Monday and Tuesday. Overall temperatures in New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. will be around 4 to 6 degrees below their historical averages.
