Historic El Niño Signals Active East Coast Storm Track and Wetter Winter Outlook Across Florida (Video)

The third coastal storm of the fall is forecast to bring the first accumulating snow of the season to parts of the interior Northeast, with 3-6 inches expected in the Adirondacks and Green Mountains, while rain, gusty winds and colder temperatures impact millions across the East through Saturday.

AccuWeather expert meteorologists warn that a potentially historic El Niño could favor an active storm track along the East Coast this winter, bringing additional threats of heavy rain, coastal flooding and potentially significant snowfall.

“Even though a potentially historic El Niño doesn’t necessarily mean a snowy winter along the East Coast, it could still set the stage for some powerful coastal storms. Even if temperatures average above historical averages and snowfall is limited overall, it only takes one major storm to bring significant snow, coastal flooding and widespread travel disruptions,” said AccuWeather expert meteorologist Dan Pydynowski.

First Snow Targets Interior Northeast as Coastal Cities Face Rain

• Rain and snow Thursday into Friday: Rain will spread into Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York City and Boston, while wet snow develops across higher elevations of Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine
• Up to 6 inches of snow: The Adirondacks of northern New York, southern Vermont’s Green Mountains and parts of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula could receive 3-6 inches of snow. Elsewhere, 1-3 inches are expected in higher elevations from New York to West Virginia, northern New England and portions of the Great Lakes region.
• Colder, windy weekend: Windy conditions Thursday through Saturday will drive AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures 10-15 degrees below actual temperatures. Lake-effect rain and snow showers will linger downwind of the Great Lakes into Sunday.

Could El Niño Fuel More East Coast Storms This Winter?

AccuWeather’s 2026-27 Winter Forecast highlights the potential for powerful coastal storms later this winter as potentially historic El Niño influences the jet stream and storm tracks across the United States.

While much of the Northeast is forecast to experience warmer-than-average conditions and below-average snowfall, AccuWeather expert meteorologists say significant winter storms remain possible, particularly during late January and February.