Published on January 29, 2026 at 4:38 p.m.
After the south of the country, the East Coast of the United States will be hit by a powerful storm. And once again, we could have our share. But to avoid the worst, there is a price to pay: the cold. Forecast.
In short:
Table of Contents
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Weather bomb set to hit east coast from North Carolina to Newfoundland;
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Up to 40 cm of snow possible in places;
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Gusts could reach 120 km/h;
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The cold should protect Quebec, but an overflow is possible depending on the trajectory.
Very robust system
We are closely monitoring a major system that is expected to affect the Carolinas to Newfoundland and Labrador. A nor’easter storm is expected to affect the Atlantic provinces from Sunday afternoon to Monday morning, before extending to Newfoundland on Monday. Although the exact trajectory and regional consequences remain uncertain at this time, the potential for a major winter storm is very real.
Possible blizzard conditions
Areas in the storm’s path could receive 20 to 40 cm or more of snow accompanied by strong winds, resulting in widespread blowing snow, heavy snow drifts and possibly blizzard conditions. This system will meet the criteria of a “weather bomb”, i.e. a depression which strengthens very quickly with a loss of atmospheric pressure of at least 24 hectopascals in less than 24 hours.
Rapid evolution
The storm will originate on Saturday in the Carolinas region, before moving up towards the coast of New England and the Atlantic provinces by Sunday. The Arctic air mass will block its path towards Quebec and deflect it towards the coast. The Boston and Cape Cod region are at the heart of the currently forecast trajectory and could be hit hard with accumulations of between 15 and 30 cm of snow.
Serious consequences are predicted for several regions of the United States:
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Heavy snow, notably in the Carolinas and Virginia, where some places could receive their heaviest snowfall in several decades;
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Blizzard conditions: winds that can exceed 120 km/h associated with snow make visibility very low, generating dangerous conditions for travel;
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Complicated travel: With snow expected to affect major airports from Charlotte to Boston, flight delays and cancellations are likely, and highways such as I-95, I-85, I-81, I-77, I-64 and I-40 could be slowed or even paralyzed in places;
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The New York area could receive up to 6 inches of snow, as well as strong gusts.
Strong winds and rising waters
Strong winds pushing water towards the coasts are expected to raise tide levels, with a risk of coastal flooding, particularly in areas such as:
Hazardous conditions Sunday evening and Monday
The storm is expected to reach Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and southern New Brunswick late in the day or evening on Sunday. Snowfall could reach rates of 2 to 3 cm per hour, combined with gusts that could exceed 100 km/h, which could result in zero visibility. The effects will worsen overnight as the system intensifies. On Monday, the most severe conditions will move towards Newfoundland, with heavy snow and strong winds.
