The NBC10 First Alert Weather Team follows a winter storm that is expected to arrive on Sunday evening and could last Tuesday morning. The storm is expected to pack snow, but sleet and sleet in some areas.
There is an initial warning in effect for the entire greater Philadelphia area, meaning people should take the time to prepare now so they don’t get caught off guard. Even before the snow comes, conditions will feel pretty harsh. The winds blow between 40 and 55 mph on the Jersey Shore and 35 to 45 mph inland, making the temperatures feel like they are in their teens.
Winter storm warnings have been issued in the following Pennsylvania counties: Bucks, Berks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Lehigh, Northampton, and Cumberland. We also see winter storm warnings in New Castle County, DE, and Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Mercer, Salem and Hunterdon counties in NJ. Ocean, Burlington, Cape May and Atlantic counties in NJ monitor the coastal flooding.
We answer some of your questions with what we know at the moment. Be sure to check back as the forecast can be adjusted as the information becomes clearer.
NBC10 There is a major winter storm heading into our region and we have updated our forecast with higher snow totals and a greater chance of winter mix. The storm track and the rain / snow / ice line, along with where the heaviest snow could fall, are still subject to change.
When is the snow expected to start? How long will it stay that way?
Light to steady snow is expected on Sunday evening, although heaviest amounts will fall on Monday.
From Sunday evening to Monday morning we could see a break with only light snow, or sleet and light sleet.
Mid-day from Monday to Monday evening, we will see the precipitation pick up again and turn into steady, heavy snow, making for the pool’s travel conditions.
Rock salt was also a hot item as a two-part winter storm approached and residents in our area prepared. Drew Smith of NBC10 reports.
Things should move on Tuesday morning.
If the ground is cold, any snow that falls will stick to untreated surfaces. Driving will be slippery, and people are advised not to drive at all on Mondays. Even on Tuesday mornings, it is best to wait for the snow plows to do their job before hitting the road.
What can you expect from the winter storm?
You can expect snow, enough to plow, and rain or a winter mix along the Jersey Shore and in southern Delaware. The interior is expected to receive the largest snow totals.
People on the coast and in southern Delaware can get rain Monday morning or a combination of freezing rain and sleet. However, there may still be 2-3 inches of snow at the beaches and 3-6 inches further inland.
North of those areas, people have to brace themselves between 6 and 10 inches, or even 16, depending on where they live.
Will it be snow, ice or a mix where I live?
The weather forecast gets more challenging on Monday as snow is expected to mix with sleet and sleet in some neighborhoods. That lowers the potential snowfall totals in those areas, but can increase concerns about slippery driving and possible power outages.
A difference of a degree or two can turn snow into ice. Winds that can blow at the coast at more than 50 mph can increase the threat of going out lights.
Monday morning, the Jersey Shore and southern Delaware can see rain or a mix of sleet and sleet. As the day wears on, 3 to 6 inches of snow can fall in the interior of South Jersey, although neighborhoods closer to the beach can only get 1 to 3 inches.
Most snow is expected inland. Neighborhoods from the I-95 corridor and going north can reach 15 to 10 inches. We could see 10 to 16 inches north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
What changes should I watch for?
Our team is working to determine where the heaviest snow and sleet will be during the second part of this storm. We also try to answer how much of the precipitation will be snow and how much a winter mix will be.
It is important to stick to the latest weather forecast from the NBC10 weather team as the track can keep shifting.
A shift in the track could mean a change in which Philadelphia neighborhoods get the heaviest and most intense snowfall before the storm sets off Tuesday morning.
Stay ahead of the storm
Download the NBC10 app now and stay tuned for NBC10 News on the air, on Roku, and on Apple TV, while the First Alert Weather Team continues to update the storm forecast throughout the weekend.