Weather: Tracking The Winter Storm
By Steven Strouss
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- It's been a wild winter. We've sustained numerous ice storms, phantom blizzards, frigid and record cold February temperatures, and 15.5 inches of total snow in Philadelphia so far (compared to an all time record challenging 105" in Boston). This is the month that Spring arrives but it seems that winter just won't quit.
The Eyewitness Weather Team has been tracking a large and developing storm, one that spans over 2000 miles from Pennsylvania to the Mexico border. Winter Storm Warnings and Advisories have been posted across the area for a significant accumulation of snow on Thursday. As this system gains strength, colder air is invading behind it which will dissolve the dense fog and change the rain over to sleet then quickly to a heavy thumping of snow overnight. The changeover will occur from North to South with the transition occurring in the city between 1-3am.
The snow will fall steadily during the early morning hours as the front sinks south dragging the precipitation bands with it. Total snow accumulations will range from 2-4" in the Lehigh Valley to 4-6" in and around Philadelphia to 6-8" in parts of central Delaware and Southern NJ. While 4-6" doesn't sound like much compared to previous winter events, this storm has potential to bring Philadelphia its biggest snowfall of the season if we surpass 4.8". While this seems like a good possibility, it is not a slam dunk. There are some wild cards to consider.
Wednesday's high temperature in Philadelphia was 43 degrees, the warmest temperature in over a week. The ground is wet from all the rain and it will take a while for the first snowflakes to accumulate as surface temperatures drop back to freezing. Another limiting factor is the location and speed of the front. If it moves faster that means the snow ends sooner, cutting down on amounts. There will be a sharp cutoff to the north which is why amounts are lower in the Poconos and higher across southern zones (including parts of Salem, Cumberland, Kent and New Castle counties).
Regardless of the total snow amount, the Thursday morning commute will be downright treacherous everywhere. Expect many cancellations and delays. Commuters will have to navigate on slippery roads and sidewalks through reduced visibility in heavy snow. If you must go out, allow plenty of extra time and use caution. Snow will taper during the afternoon and should clear the city by 3pm, moving off the coast by 6pm.
Temperatures then crash into the single-digits Thursday night, possibly breaking the record of 10 degrees from 1978. Expect untreated roads to remain snow-covered through Friday morning. The arctic chill stays in place Friday afternoon as temperatures rebound only into the upper 20s.
There is better news, temperatures climb higher into the weekend and a pattern change will bring some 50 degree temperatures next week! At this point, we are all sick of winter's wrath so we will certainly keep you updated on the storm as it continues to push through.
