A Winter Storm Warning has been issued ahead of a powerful storm expected to bring significant snowfall to New York City and the broader Tri-State area from Friday evening into Saturday morning.

The National Weather Service placed much of New York City, northern New Jersey, and southern Connecticut under the warning, forecasting what could be the most substantial snowstorm of the season so far.

The storm is expected to begin moving into the region Friday afternoon, reaching areas north and west of the city by about 3 p.m. and arriving in New York City between 5 and 6 p.m. Meteorologists said the system originated from powerful storms that recently impacted California, with that energy combining with Arctic air in the Midwest before pushing toward the East Coast.

The heaviest snowfall is forecast between roughly 8 p.m. Friday and 1 a.m. Saturday, when snowfall rates could reach 1 to 2 inches per hour. During that period, visibility may drop significantly, creating extremely hazardous travel conditions. Lighter snow is expected to continue into Saturday morning and taper off by midday, with little additional accumulation. Some late clearing is possible to the north.

Eyewitness News has issued an AccuWeather Alert for Friday and Saturday due to the storm’s potential impact.

City officials urged residents to prepare for heavy snow and slick road conditions. New York City Emergency Management issued a travel advisory for Friday evening through Saturday. Mayor Eric Adams and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul both encouraged New Yorkers to avoid unnecessary travel and exercise caution if they must be on the roads.