SHORT TERM FORECAST
TODAY: cold with sun and some clouds. Maximum: 30
TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy with snow that develops toward sunrise, accumulating a one-inch coating. Low: 21
THURSDAY: Cloudy and cold with snow of varying intensity, mixing with sleet to the south and east late in the day or night. Total storm buildup early Friday from 5 to 9 inches. High: 29 Low: 27
FORECAST SUMMARY
After a fight with some rain and icy rains from Monday night until the early hours of Tuesday, Tuesday afternoon we received a rare thaw in February. Although it lasted only a short time, it was nice to see some sun and 40 degree temperatures to come together to melt some of our persistent layer of snow, which is now on the ground for over two weeks.
Don’t expect, however, too much melting to occur during the rest of the week, as the cold that came last night meant that it could be re-frozen quickly with temperatures dropping to teenagers in their upper and lower twenties. Although the sun returns today, the softer air does not, replaced by highs close to 30 degrees on a cold but dry day.
And true to this February’s theme: a storm every few days, there’s yet another winter storm that’s on its way to arrive Thursday and through Friday. This will be colder than its predecessor, meaning snow is expected to accumulate throughout the area starting Thursday morning. While there could be some mixing issues with sleet and freezing rain towards the Delaware Valley and the coast, it is likely that most of us will have arable snow that is expected to end the week.
We will be dry over the weekend as another cold air feature will be installed on Saturday and Sunday, followed by another snow opportunity early next week on Monday. In case it counts, there are 32 long days until spring arrives.
DETAILED FORECAST
TODAY AND TODAY
Wednesday is a much colder day than Tuesday, but still dry, with sun giving way to some clouds later. The winds will be light, but it will be cold, with highs around 30 degrees despite the sun. As a result, don’t expect too much fusion.
The clouds will thicken overnight with some snow from our south as we approach the sunrise on Thursday. Overnight minimums should return to the lower twenty.
THURSDAY
Ready or not … here comes our next winter storm. Expect snow to develop early in the morning and stay constant throughout the morning until early afternoon, when a good deal of buildup is expected.
Later in the afternoon, the snow will become more fluid and intermittent and may mix with some snow and frost, especially in the south and east of the Lehigh Valley. The mix is most likely from the runway on Highway 95 to the coast, with a light mix of snow, sleet and icy rain that is also expected on Thursday night, but more of a lighter variety.
FRIDAY
Our storm is likely to last longer than expected and until Friday, with clouds and some occasional light snow, perhaps mixed with icy rains and sleet closer to shore. Any snow should be light and especially the first half of the day, with a trend of gradual drying later on Friday, although the clouds will remain in place.
Total accumulations appear to be around 5-9 ”for much of the area, with 2-5” south and east of Interstate 95, where mixing is most common.
THIS WEEKEND
For the first time throughout the month, an entire weekend in February seems dry with a good deal of sunshine, but also with fairly cold temperatures. Expect a sunny sky on Saturday with a warm, cold breeze and highs only in frosts, then partly sunny skies with lighter winds on Sunday, but highs only in the mid-30s.
Another chance of snow may follow early next week, with another round of snow possible on Monday.
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