Northeast Forecast: More Snow Chances Follow a Major Blizzard

A major storm exits, but winter weather lingers

The Northeast is watching a familiar pattern unfold: one significant winter storm moves out, and the next set of systems lines up behind it. After a powerful storm dropped more than 2 feet of snow in some states, forecasters said the primary system was tracking northeast and moving away from the United States on the morning of Feb. 24, continuing along the Canadian Maritimes.

Even as the storm departs, the immediate aftermath can still be disruptive. Gusty winds were expected to persist across the Northeast before easing through the day, a reminder that winter impacts are not limited to snowfall totals alone. Blowing snow, drifting, and reduced visibility can continue even after the heaviest precipitation ends.

However, forecasters cautioned that the region should not expect a long break from wintry conditions. In a Feb. 24 online forecast, AccuWeather described “additional chances for snow” later in the week, arriving as many residents begin digging out from what it called a “blockbuster blizzard.”

System 1: A clipper brings a new swath of snow

The first of the next potential disruptions is a clipper-type storm expected to track across the Great Lakes on Tuesday, Feb. 24, and Wednesday, Feb. 25. Clippers are often fast-moving systems, but they can still spread a broad area of light to moderate snow, especially when cold air is firmly in place.

Forecasters said this clipper is expected to deliver a swath of snow from northern Minnesota into New England. That places a large portion of the northern tier in line for accumulating snow, with travel conditions potentially changing quickly as the system progresses east.

Farther south, the precipitation type may be less straightforward. In cities such as Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City, snow could mix with rain as the storm moves through. Mixed precipitation can complicate commuting and road treatment decisions, as temperatures near the freezing mark can shift conditions from wet roads to slushy or slick surfaces in a short period of time.

The National Weather Service said that as the system pushes east Tuesday night into Wednesday, Feb. 25, heavy snow will come to an end across the Great Lakes. At the same time, snow showers are expected to spread into the northern Mid-Atlantic and the Northeast, extending the period of intermittent wintry weather beyond the main burst of snow.

Why modest snowfall can still matter after a blizzard

Even if the clipper does not produce totals comparable to the earlier major storm, forecasters noted that it could still create meaningful impacts. AccuWeather meteorologist Elizabeth Danco said in a Feb. 24 online forecast that while totals are not expected to be as significant as the nor’easter, streets and sidewalks that have already been cleared can become snow-covered again, particularly from Pennsylvania to Maine.

This is a common challenge in the days following a major snow event. Plows and crews may have made progress clearing primary roads and walkways, but a fresh coating can reduce traction, obscure patches of ice, and slow the pace of cleanup. For pedestrians, even a thin layer of new snow can hide uneven surfaces left behind by earlier shoveling and plowing.

In New York City, the official snowfall forecast from the clipper was roughly 1 to 2 inches, according to the weather service. While that amount is relatively modest, it can still affect commutes, especially if it falls during peak travel times or if temperatures allow for quick accumulation on untreated surfaces.

System 2: Another late-week storm with snow and ice potential

Forecasters are also monitoring a second storm expected later in the week, one that could spread wintry weather across much of the Northeast. The National Weather Service said in an online forecast dated Feb. 24 that this system could bring snow north of the storm track, with a band of sleet and freezing rain in the transition zone.

That “transition zone” is often where forecasting becomes most complex. Small changes in storm track or temperature profiles can shift the boundary between snow and ice, and the difference matters: sleet and freezing rain can create hazardous travel and lead to difficult-to-treat road conditions.

At the time of the Feb. 24 forecast, the weather service emphasized that there remained a fair amount of uncertainty about the storm track. That uncertainty is significant because the storm’s path helps determine where the coldest air remains locked in and where warmer air aloft may intrude, changing snow to sleet or freezing rain.

AccuWeather said the storm should reach the eastern United States later Thursday, Feb. 26, into Thursday night. With cold air in place, forecasters said conditions could support a stripe of snow north of the storm track. Danco noted that on the southern fringe of the cold air, precipitation could become a mix of rain, snow, and ice.

What “uncertainty” means for day-to-day planning

When forecasters highlight uncertainty, it does not mean a storm is unlikely; rather, it often indicates that the range of possible outcomes is still wide. In practical terms, that can mean the difference between a mostly snow event and one dominated by sleet or freezing rain for communities near the rain-snow line.

For residents and travelers, the key takeaway is that the late-week storm may bring different hazards depending on location. Areas north of the track are more likely to see snow, while areas closer to the boundary may contend with mixed precipitation. Because mixed precipitation can create rapid changes in road conditions, it can be especially disruptive during overnight or early-morning hours when temperatures are most likely to hover near freezing.

Looking ahead: Another early-March threat is on the map

Beyond the clipper and the late-week storm, forecasters also pointed to a longer-range signal for additional wintry weather in early March. The weather service said that another threat of snow, sleet, or freezing rain could exist anywhere from the mid-Mississippi Valley into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast from Monday, March 2, into Tuesday, March 3.

Because that time frame was still nearly a week away as of the Feb. 24 forecast, the weather service cautioned that key details remained unclear. “Exactly where these precipitation types occur, and also the magnitude of totals, remains unclear,” the forecast said.

That kind of early outlook can still be useful for situational awareness. It signals that the overall pattern may remain active, with multiple opportunities for wintry precipitation across a broad region, even if the specific track and impacts cannot yet be pinned down.

Key points from the forecast timeline

• Feb. 24: The major winter storm was moving away from the U.S. toward the Canadian Maritimes, with gusty winds lingering across the Northeast before diminishing.
• Feb. 24–25: A clipper system was expected to track across the Great Lakes and spread snow from northern Minnesota into New England, with mixed rain and snow possible farther south.
• Tuesday night into Wednesday (Feb. 25): Heavy snow was expected to end across the Great Lakes as snow showers spread into the northern Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
• Late Thursday into Thursday night (Feb. 26): Another storm was expected to reach the eastern U.S., with snow north of the track and a potential band of sleet/freezing rain in the transition zone, though the track remained uncertain.
• March 2–3: A longer-range signal suggested another possible round of snow/sleet/freezing rain from the mid-Mississippi Valley into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, with details still unclear.

What to watch as the week unfolds

As the Northeast moves from one storm to the next, the most important variables will be timing, temperature, and storm track. The clipper’s snow totals may be limited compared with the earlier blizzard, but even light accumulations can re-cover cleared surfaces and slow recovery efforts. For the late-week storm, the placement of the snow band and the zone of sleet or freezing rain will be critical for travel conditions.

For major cities mentioned in the forecast discussion—Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City—the possibility of rain mixing with snow underscores how close some locations may be to the dividing line between precipitation types. Meanwhile, communities from Pennsylvania to Maine were specifically highlighted as places where cleared roads and sidewalks could become snow-covered again.

With another early-March threat also on the horizon, forecasters are signaling that the broader pattern may continue to generate wintry precipitation opportunities across a large part of the eastern United States. While the exact placement and intensity of those events remain uncertain, the message for the region is consistent: the immediate blizzard may be over, but winter is not finished delivering impacts.