SHORT TERM FORECAST
TODAY: Cold with sun and clouds. Height: 30
TODAY: Mostly cloudy, with snow growing towards the sunrise, accumulating a layer of one centimeter. Minimum: 21
THURSDAY: Cloudy and cold with snow of varying intensity, mixing with sleet to the south and east late during the day or night. Total storm buildup by early Friday 5-9 inches. High: 29 Low: 27
FORECAST SUMMARY
After an attack with some icy rains and rain from Monday evening until early Tuesday morning, we were treated with a rare thaw from February to Tuesday afternoon. While it was short-lived, it was nice to see the sun and temperatures of 40 degrees and team up to melt some of our persistent snowpack, which has now been on the ground for more than two weeks.
However, don’t expect much more melting for the rest of the week, as last night’s cold froze rapidly, with temperatures dropping in the upper teens and lower 20s. As the sun returns today, the milder air will not be replaced by highs closer to 30 degrees on a cold but dry day.
And true to the theme of this February storm, every few days, another winter storm is about to arrive on Thursday and the last until Friday. It will be colder than its predecessor, which means that snow accumulation is expected throughout the area starting Thursday morning. Although there may be some mixing issues with sleet and freezing rain toward the Delaware Valley and shore, it is likely that snow will appear for most of us, with the impact of the trip expected to end the week.
We will dry for the weekend, as another gust of cold air sets in on Saturday and Sunday, followed by yet another snow opportunity on Monday early next week. If you count, there are still 32 long days until spring arrives.
DETAILED FORECAST
TODAY AND TONIGHT
Wednesday is a much colder day than Tuesday, but still a dry one, with the sun giving way a few clouds later in the day. The winds will be light, but it will be cold, with highs of only 30 degrees, despite the sun. Don’t expect too much melting as a result.
The clouds will thicken overnight, with some snow working from our south, as we approach the sunrise on Thursday. Overnight lows should set back in the lower 20s.
THURSDAY
Ready or not … here comes our next winter storm. It is expected that the snow will develop early in the morning and become constant until the morning until the first part of the afternoon, when a good build-up is expected.
Later in the afternoon, the snow will become lighter and more intermittent and may mix with some sleet and icy rains, especially south and east of the Lehigh Valley. The mix is most likely on the Interstate 95 corridor to shore, with a light mix of snow, sleet and icy rain expected on Thursday night, but more of a lighter variety, again and again.
FRIDAY
Our storm will probably persist longer than we expected so far on Friday, with occasional clouds and light snow, perhaps mixed with frozen rain and sleet closer to shore. Any snow should be light and especially in the first half of the day, with a tendency to gradually dry out later on Friday, although the clouds will remain in place.
Total accumulations appear to be around 5-9 ”for much of the area, 2-5” south and east of Highway 95, where the mixture is more widespread.
THIS WEEKEND
For the first time all month, a whole weekend in February looks dry, with a good sun, but also with quite cold temperatures. Expect mostly cloudy skies on Saturday, with a strong, cold breeze and highs only around frost, then partly sunny skies, with weaker winds on Sundays, but highs only in the mid-1930s.
Another chance of snow may follow early next week, with another round of snow possible on Monday.
Watch the weather: