Mild To Wild
By Steve Strouss
The mercury climbed to 58 degrees this afternoon in Philadelphia which is 18 degrees above the normal high and the warmest temperature recorded so far this year. Since January 1, temperatures overall are averaging almost six degrees above normal but this mild pattern is about to come to a sudden end.
A stalled cold front lingering just south of the region tonight will keep our forecast unsettled over the next 48 hours. A few disturbances will ride along the front, keeping skies cloudy overnight with a few showers.
Tuesday will feature another cloudy, dreary day as additional showers return to the area by evening. Colder air will then drain into the region Tuesday night and this will set the stage for a wintry mix of precipitation in the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos. Snow and sleet may accumulate up to two inches in these areas and although this is not a significant storm, it will be enough to cause slick spots on local roads during the Wednesday morning commute up north.
Sunshine returns to the Delaware Valley on Thursday along with breezy conditions but then a reinforcing shot of cold air arrives on Friday as temperatures struggle to get out of the 30s. If that isn't cold enough for you then you are in luck. An Arctic blast will invade early next week and that will send feels like temperatures into the teens.
