Monstrous, Damaging Storm Looms for the Northeast

While a snowstorm is currently underway across upstate New York and New England, the worst has yet to come for the Northeast. A monstrous storm is set to develop across the region on Thursday, unleashing damaging winds, coastal flooding and an all-out blizzard.

Unlike recent storms this winter, the dangers of the upcoming monster will not be confined to one part of the Northeast. The worst of the storm will rage from Thursday afternoon into Friday morning.

Strong winds will gust to or past 50 mph over a large portion of the Northeast, resulting in widespread tree damage and power outages.

Buildings and vehicles may also suffer damage, including from falling trees. In the hardest-hit areas, residents may remain without power for a week.

The winds will have no trouble significantly blowing and drifting the storm's heavy snow around. The snow will accumulate 1 to 2 feet over the Pocono and Catskill mountains and the mountains of northern New England.

Up to a foot of snow will bury much of New York state, northern Pennsylvania, northern New Jersey and the central Appalachians. New York City lies within this zone.

The snow will be heavy and wet near the monster storm's center. That could further make these areas susceptible to wind damage.

Cities set to be pounded by the storm's heavy snow and wind are Syracuse, Rochester, Binghamton, Williamsport, Allentown and New York City.

Residents may call the storm a "snow-hurricane" instead of a blizzard across the higher terrain of northern New England and some parts of central New York and eastern Pennsylvania. Winds here will gust to 70 mph, just shy of hurricane strength. Just to clarify, this storm is technically not an actual hurricane.

Heavy rain northeast of the storm's center threatens to cause flooding across eastern New England. The beaches should also prepare for severe coastal flooding. This includes Boston, Providence and Portland.

On the other hand, blowout tides caused by strong offshore winds may pose problems for coastal waterway interests from New Jersey to North Carolina.

In addition to widespread damage, the storm threatens to severely impact travel throughout the Northeast. Problems both on the ground and in the air can be expected.

Officials will likely be forced to close roads blocked by either snow, downed trees and power lines and flooding. Numerous flight cancellations will not only delay airline passengers at the region's airports, but also elsewhere across the nation.

Schools that do not start off closed may let out early on Thursday, then could remain closed into Friday.

Be sure to keep checking back with AccuWeather.com for the latest updates on this damaging and disruptive storm.