NBC10’s First Alert weather team is tracking a winter storm that is expected to arrive on Sunday evening and can last until Tuesday morning. The storm is expected to pack snow but also pockets of sleet and freezing rain in some neighborhoods.
There is an early warning in effect for the entire Philadelphia region, which means people should take the time to prepare now so they don’t get caught unawares. Even before the snow arrives, the conditions will feel quite brutal. Winds will blow between 40 and 55 mph off the coast of Jersey and 35 to 45 mph inland, making temperatures feel like they are teenagers.
Winter storm warnings have been issued in the following counties in Pennsylvania: 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 New Jersey. Ocean, Burlington, Cape May and Atlantic counties in New Jersey are monitored for coastal flooding.
We are answering some of your questions with what we know right now. Be sure to check again, as the forecast may adjust when the information is clearer.
NBC10 A major winter storm is heading towards our region and we have updated our forecast with an increase in snow and a higher probability of winter mixing. The storm track and the rain / snow / ice line, along with where the heaviest snow could fall, could still change.
When is the snow expected to start? How long will it last?
Light and stable snow is expected to arrive on Sunday evening, although the heaviest amounts will fall on Monday.
Sunday night through Monday morning, we could see a calm with only loose snow or a giant rain.
From noon to Monday night, we will see that rainfall increases again and changes to constant and intense snow, which causes poor travel conditions.
Rock salt was also a hot item as a two-part winter storm approached and residents of our area prepared. Drew Smith, of NBC10, reports.
Things should go on Tuesday morning.
With cold ground, any falling snow will begin to adhere to untreated surfaces. Driving will be slippery and it is recommended to avoid driving completely on Mondays. Even on Tuesday morning, it’s best to wait for the snowplows to do their job before you hit the road.
What to expect from the winter storm?
You have to wait for snow, enough to need plowing, and rain or a winter mix on the Jersey Shore and south Delaware. Inland areas are expected to get the highest snow totals.
People on the coast and south of Delaware may experience rain or a mixture of icy rain and sleet on Monday morning. However, there could still be 1-3 inches of snow near the beaches and 3-6 inches more inland.
North of these areas, people should prepare for between 6 and 10 inches, or up to 16, depending on where they live.
Will it be snow, ice or a mixture where I live?
Forecasts become more difficult on Monday, as snow is expected to mix with sleet and freezing rain in some neighborhoods. This will reduce the total possible snowfall in these areas, but could add concerns about slippery displacements and possible electrical outages.
A difference of a degree or two could change the snow to ice. Winds that could loosen to more than 50 mph near the coast could add the threat that the lights will go out.
Monday morning, the Jersey Shore and southern Delaware could see rain or a mixture of sleet and icy rain. As the day progresses, it could fall 3 to 6 inches of snow in the interior of southern Jersey, although the neighborhoods closest to the beach can only get 1 to 3 inches.
Inside is where most of the snow is expected to fall. The neighborhoods on Corridor I-95 and to the north could be 6 to 10 inches. We were able to see 10 to 16 inches north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
What changes should I consider?
Our team is working to determine where there will be the strongest snow and sleet during the second half of this storm. We are also still trying to respond to the amount of precipitation that will be snowing and the amount of winter.
It’s important to keep up with the latest NBC10 weather team forecasts, as the track could continue to change.
A change of track could mean a change in neighborhoods in the Philadelphia area with the heaviest and most intense snowfall before the storm moves on Tuesday morning.
Stay ahead of the storm
Download the NBC10 app right now and keep tuning to NBC10 News on the air, on Roku and on Apple TV, as the First Alert weather team continues to update the storm forecast throughout the weekend.