--- title: Flooding, snow and strong winds could affect businesses later this week description: A large storm system will bring impactful snow, rain with snowmelt, and high winds to the Great Lakes, the Appalachians, and the Northeast over Christmas. image: https://afb.accuweather.com/hubfs/31-Dec-21-2020-08-59-47-23-PM.jpeg --- [Skip to content](https://afb.accuweather.com/blog/flooding-snow-and-strong-winds-could-affect-businesses-later-this-week#main-content) [![accuweather-business-white-01](https://afb.accuweather.com/hubfs/Website/accuweather-business-white-01.svg "accuweather-business-white-01")](https://afb.accuweather.com/) - [Learn & Support](https://afb.accuweather.com/learn-support) Learn & Support [Overview](https://afb.accuweather.com/learn-support) - [Case Studies](https://www.accuweather.com/en/news/case-studies) - [Webinars](https://www.accuweather.com/en/blogs-webinars/welcome-to-accuweathers-webinar-hub/1692349) - [Press Releases](https://corporate.accuweather.com/newsroom/press-releases/) - [Blog](https://www.accuweather.com/en/news/blogs-webinars) [![accu-winter-events](https://afb.accuweather.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Website/accu-winter-events.jpg?width=90&height=90&name=accu-winter-events.jpg)](https://afb.accuweather.com/webinar-winter-risk-mitigation-services) Webinar [Take the Worry out of Winter: Risk Mitigation](https://afb.accuweather.com/webinar-winter-risk-mitigation-services) [![accu-hurricane-events](https://afb.accuweather.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Website/accu-hurricane-events.jpg?width=90&height=90&name=accu-hurricane-events.jpg)](https://afb.accuweather.com/blog/hurricane-relief-tips-how-your-business-can-help-without-becoming-a-victim) Blog [How your business can help without becoming a victim](https://afb.accuweather.com/blog/hurricane-relief-tips-how-your-business-can-help-without-becoming-a-victim) - [Let's Get Started](https://afb.accuweather.com/lets-get-started) - [Learn & Support](https://afb.accuweather.com/learn-support) - [Case Studies](https://www.accuweather.com/en/news/case-studies) - [Webinars](https://www.accuweather.com/en/blogs-webinars/welcome-to-accuweathers-webinar-hub/1692349) - [Press Releases](https://corporate.accuweather.com/newsroom/press-releases/) - [Blog](https://www.accuweather.com/en/news/blogs-webinars) [Home](https://afb.accuweather.com/)  /  [Weather Now](https://afb.accuweather.com/blog/tag/weather-now) # Flooding, snow and strong winds could affect businesses later this week Posted by [AccuWeather for Business](https://afb.accuweather.com/blog/author/accuweather-for-business) on Dec 22, 2020 ![](https://afb.accuweather.com/hs-fs/hubfs/31-Dec-21-2020-08-59-47-23-PM.jpeg?width=1200&height=628&name=31-Dec-21-2020-08-59-47-23-PM.jpeg) Summary ## A large winter storm system will bring impactful snow, rain with snowmelt, and high winds to central Canada, the Great Lakes, the Appalachians, and the Northeast this week. Key Highlights #### Threats: Heavy snow, flooding rains, snowmelt, high winds, extreme cold #### States affected: PA, NJ, NY, NH, RI, MA, ME, CT, VT #### When: December 24 - 25 A large storm is forecast to bring heavy rain followed by bitter cold and snow from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day. ![30-Dec-21-2020-08-59-47-14-PM](https://afb.accuweather.com/hs-fs/hubfs/30-Dec-21-2020-08-59-47-14-PM.jpeg?width=1120&name=30-Dec-21-2020-08-59-47-14-PM.jpeg) ## Snowfall Snow will begin from the Appalachians through the Ohio Valley Thursday morning, and in the Northeast Thursday evening. The heaviest snowfall of 12-18 inches with rates to 3"/hr at times will occur along the shores of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario with lake effect snowfall. Snow will taper off across the Upper Midwest through the Appalachians by Thursday evening and the Northeast by Friday morning. Following the cold air, rain is expected to change to snow over parts of New England with lake-effect snow over parts of the Great Lakes. By late Friday night many areas in the eastern Great Lakes will have 1-3 inches of snow with the snow belt areas to the southeast of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario expected to receive 6-12 inches. The AccuWeather Local StormMax™ is 24 inches. ![23-Dec-21-2020-08-59-46-81-PM](https://afb.accuweather.com/hs-fs/hubfs/23-Dec-21-2020-08-59-46-81-PM.jpeg?width=1920&name=23-Dec-21-2020-08-59-46-81-PM.jpeg) ## Rainfall Heavy rainfall will occur across much of the Northeast Thursday morning through Friday morning. Totals of 1-3 inches will fall at rates to 0.5"/hr at times with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 5 inches. Rain is expected to surge northward from the Middle Atlantic states to New England Thursday into Thursday night and will be heavy at times. Due to last week’s heavy snowfall, areas saturated with ongoing snowmelt – from northeastern Pennsylvania and northern New Jersey through much of the Northeast into central Maine – will be faced with urban and low-lying flooding concerns. **A significant portion of the deep snowpack over the interior Northeast is expected to be washed away by early Christmas morning.** ![27-Dec-21-2020-08-59-46-85-PM](https://afb.accuweather.com/hs-fs/hubfs/27-Dec-21-2020-08-59-46-85-PM.jpeg?width=1920&name=27-Dec-21-2020-08-59-46-85-PM.jpeg) ## Wind In addition to the rain, strong winds are expected to impact the region. Along the East Coast ahead of the strong cold front, southerly winds will usher in gusts of 50-60 mph with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 70 mph. The winds could also lead to coastal flooding and beach erosion. Winds will diminish by Friday evening as the cold front pushes eastward. ![35-Dec-21-2020-09-03-17-28-PM](https://afb.accuweather.com/hs-fs/hubfs/35-Dec-21-2020-09-03-17-28-PM.jpeg?width=1920&name=35-Dec-21-2020-09-03-17-28-PM.jpeg) ## Extreme Cold The combination of wind and Arctic air will make it feel very cold from the Midwest to the Appalachians late Thursday into early Friday. Temperatures could be more than 10-15 degrees below average from the Midwest through New England. Any snow combined with standing water, slush and plummeting temperatures can lead to rapid freezing of surfaces and dangerous road conditions from the Appalachians westward. - Interstates potentially impacted by flooding rainfall in the Northeast include I-90, I-95, I-80 and I-84. Stream and river flooding along with ice jams and ponding of water is expected to cause significant travel delays on Christmas Eve - Road and rail washouts are anticipated with heavy rain and snowmelt - Expect disruptions to logistical operations, as well as road and interstate closures from heavy snow, which could cascade into package deliveries expected before Christmas Day - Businesses should prepare for power outages due to high winds - Fog could cause low visibility Thursday into Thursday night, adding to travel problems - Air travel could see delays or cancellations with flights grounded due to a combination of strong winds, heavy rain and snow. Further delays are possible as planes will need to be de-iced and runways may turn slick with the push of colder air and snowfall behind the storm ## Demo SkyGuard® now ### Stay up-to-date this winter with a demo of SkyGuard weather risk platform for business ## The latest from AccuWeather For Business [![](https://afb.accuweather.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AtmoRiverss.jpg?width=506&height=265&name=AtmoRiverss.jpg)](https://afb.accuweather.com/blog/businesses-in-the-southwest-should-prepare-now-for-a-powerful-winter-storm-that-will-bring-heavy-rain-and-snow) ### [Businesses in the Southwest should prepare now for a powerful winter storm that will bring heavy rain and snow](https://afb.accuweather.com/blog/businesses-in-the-southwest-should-prepare-now-for-a-powerful-winter-storm-that-will-bring-heavy-rain-and-snow) BUSINESSES SHOULD BE READY FOR A MAJOR STORM BRINGING RAIN AND SNOW TO THE SOUTHWEST AccuWeather's... [Read More](https://afb.accuweather.com/blog/businesses-in-the-southwest-should-prepare-now-for-a-powerful-winter-storm-that-will-bring-heavy-rain-and-snow) --- 3 minute read • Dec 29, 2022 [![](https://afb.accuweather.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Fri%20storm%201.12am.jpg?width=506&height=265&name=Fri%20storm%201.12am.jpg)](https://afb.accuweather.com/blog/another-major-multihazard-storm-will-impact-midwest-and-east-businesses-later-this-week) ### [Powerful Storm Threatens Businesses with Blizzard Conditions and Severe Weather](https://afb.accuweather.com/blog/another-major-multihazard-storm-will-impact-midwest-and-east-businesses-later-this-week) Second Major Storm of the Week AccuWeather's expert meteorologists have been warning for days about... [Read More](https://afb.accuweather.com/blog/another-major-multihazard-storm-will-impact-midwest-and-east-businesses-later-this-week) --- 5 minute read • Jan 12, 2024 [![](https://afb.accuweather.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Snow%20arrives-2.jpg?width=506&height=265&name=Snow%20arrives-2.jpg)](https://afb.accuweather.com/blog/arctic-blast-get-ready-for-the-coldest-temperatures-of-the-year-in-parts-of-the-u.s) ### [ARCTIC BLAST: Get ready for the coldest temperatures of the year in parts of the U.S.](https://afb.accuweather.com/blog/arctic-blast-get-ready-for-the-coldest-temperatures-of-the-year-in-parts-of-the-u.s) STRETCH OF SNOW TO CAUSE DANGEROUS CONDITIONS A winter storm will bring up to a foot of snow from... [Read More](https://afb.accuweather.com/blog/arctic-blast-get-ready-for-the-coldest-temperatures-of-the-year-in-parts-of-the-u.s) --- 4 minute read • Jan 27, 2023 ## Want our stories delivered straight to you? Subscribe to our blog today! [![accuweather-business-all-white](https://afb.accuweather.com/hubfs/Website/accuweather-business-all-white.svg "accuweather-business-all-white")](https://afb.accuweather.com/) AFB PORTAL [LOGIN](https://enterpriseportal-v2.accuweather.com/login.html) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/AccuWeather/) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/accuweather-for-business/) [Follow us on Twitter](https://www.twitter.com/accuweather) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/accuweather/?hl=en) - [Learn & Support](https://afb.accuweather.com/learn-support) - [Case Studies](https://www.accuweather.com/en/news/case-studies) - [Webinars](https://www.accuweather.com/en/blogs-webinars/welcome-to-accuweathers-webinar-hub/1692349) - [Press Releases](https://corporate.accuweather.com/newsroom/press-releases/) - [Blog](https://www.accuweather.com/en/news/blogs-webinars) © 2026 AccuWeather, Inc. - [AccuWeather.com](https://www.accuweather.com/) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.accuweather.com/en/privacy) - [Terms of Use](https://www.accuweather.com/en/legal) - [Cookie Preferences](https://www.accuweather.com/en/cookiepolicy) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "AccuWeather for Business", "url" : "https://afb.accuweather.com/blog/author/accuweather-for-business" }, "dateModified" : "2023-02-06T15:44:42.810Z", "datePublished" : "2020-12-22T15:18:23.000Z", "headline" : "Flooding, snow and strong winds could affect businesses later this week", "image" : [ "https://afb.accuweather.com/hubfs/31-Dec-21-2020-08-59-47-23-PM.jpeg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://afb.accuweather.com/blog/flooding-snow-and-strong-winds-could-affect-businesses-later-this-week", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://afb.accuweather.com/hubfs/AW_Horiz_Transparent_Logo.png" }, "name" : "AccuWeather" } } ```