The city of Philadelphia is bracing for a cocktail of weather conditions this weekend, according to the latest updates from the National Weather Service. As clouds hover over the skyline with a frigid temperature of 30°F and humidity at 85%, locals are advised to keep their raincoats at arm's reach. "Showers likely, mainly between 10am and 1pm," the NWS warns, predicting a high near 45 with a southwest wind clocking in at 5 to 10 mph, and a 60% chance of precipitation. With less than a tenth of an inch of new precipitation expected, the damp conditions are set to give way to potential snowstorms as the weekend progresses.
As we move into the night, Philadelphia's residents will see temperatures drop to around 31°F, with southwest winds shifting to the northwest after midnight. The real concern, however, is the impending snow, which could be mixed with rain tomorrow. The NWS forecast predicts "snow, possibly mixed with rain. The snow could be heavy at times," urging citizens to prepare for a 90% chance of precipitation and new snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches. This snowfall is expected to continue into tomorrow night, though with lighter accumulation, as the city transitions to celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day under clearer skies.
The commemorative day itself is expected to be mostly sunny despite the chilling high of just 24 degrees, with a west wind of 10 to 15 mph and gusts that could spike as high as 25 mph. Temperatures are projected to plummet to a low around 4 on Monday night. However, the cold grip on the city isn't loosening just yet; Tuesday comes with partly sunny skies but with a high only reaching near 18 degrees.
Halfway through the week, Philadelphians might witness another snow chance by Tuesday night. "A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 8. Chance of precipitation is 30%," notes the NWS, giving locals ample time to ready their snow gear yet again. However, the rest of the week seems to promise more sun than snow, with mostly sunny days and partly cloudy nights — temperatures ranging in the low to mid-twenties, escalating to a more comfortable high near 34 by Friday.
