Brace for a Wintry Blast: Icy Roads and Travel Risks Ahead in Philadelphia
Get ready, Philly! A powerful winter storm is making its way to the city, and travel could get rough on Friday night and Saturday morning. It would be wise to reach your destinations by 3 p.m. this Friday if possible to avoid the brunt of the storm.
Expect the morning on Friday to be cloudy with temperatures dropping below freezing. Weather alerts have been issued from Friday afternoon at 3 p.m., continuing until Saturday morning at 10 a.m., warning of conditions that could be hazardous.
Warnings and Advisories
In areas like the Poconos and parts of the Lehigh Valley, a winter storm warning has been issued. Meanwhile, the rest of Philadelphia and a large portion of Pennsylvania, New York, and West Virginia are under a winter weather advisory.
What to Expect
Here's what you need to know about this upcoming storm:
- The danger lies in the possibility of freezing rain and ice.
- The storm will start affecting our area after Friday at 3 p.m. and it will last until Saturday morning, between 6 and 10 a.m.
- The snow will be heavier in the northern parts of the area, but depending on where you live, you might see heavy snow, a mix of snow and sleet, a combination of snow and freezing rain, or mostly rain with some wet snow.
- Initial precipitation could be all snow, except in the southern parts of Delaware and South Jersey, which are expected to receive rain.
- In Philadelphia, there will be a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain.
- Any snowfall accumulation will be a combination of sleet and snow.
- The heaviest snow will fall north of a line extending from the Lehigh Valley to North Jersey and New York.
Travel Conditions and Snow Totals
For those living in Philadelphia, Southeast Pennsylvania, and parts of South Jersey, expect shoveling snow off your driveways and sidewalks. The roads are likely to be treacherous due to either snow accumulation or up to 0.2 inches of ice, causing potential disruptions in travel. This could lead to delays and cancellations at the airport, as well as holdups in train and bus services. Power outages may also occur in some areas.
Here are the potential snow and sleet totals:
- 4–6+ inches of snow: Parts of the Lehigh Valley, Poconos
- 2–4 inches of snow and sleet: Parts of Lehigh Valley, Northeast Philly, Bucks, Burlington, Mercer counties
- 1–2 inches of snow, sleet, and up to 0.2 inch of freezing rain: Philadelphia, I-95, Montgomery, Berks, Delaware, New Castle, Gloucester, Camden, Atlantic counties
- Coating–1 inch of snow, sleet, and up to 0.2 inch of freezing rain: Salem, Cumberland, New Castle, Berks, Chester, Atlantic counties
- Rain: Cape May, Kent counties
Weather Outlook
After the storm passes, another weather system is expected to arrive on Sunday night, bringing more rain. The last week of the year promises to be bitterly cold. Here's a quick look at the seven-day forecast:
- Friday/Kwanzaa's 1st night: Weather alert for afternoon/evening snow and ice. High 31, low 26.
- Saturday: Weather alert for morning snow and ice. High 34, low 29.
- Sunday: Late rain chances. High 39, low 28.
- Monday: Mild with showers. High 50, low 38.
- Tuesday: Very cold. High 34, low 28.
- Wednesday/New Year's Eve: A chilly farewell to the year. High 37, low 26.
- Thursday/New Year's Day: A cold start to the new year. High 32, low 24.